Going to trial is the lifeblood of an attorney’s job, but there’s a lot of preparation that happens before he ever steps foot into a courtroom. To best represent their client in the courtroom, countless hours need to be spent getting ready for all phases of trial. Today, we explain what goes into the preparation process.
The Initial Steps
Hear Their Story – Preparing for trial begins the second the client walks in the door or calls you on the phone. When the client stops into the office, you want to learn everything about the case. Why were they stopped by police? What are they being charged with? What did the officer say during the interaction? Were there any witnesses? What’s your version of events? Those are just a small portion of questions that your attorney will ask you during the free initial consultation.
Witness Statements – As we mentioned above, your attorney will ask about witnesses during the initial consultation. Once you leave his office, he’ll try to get in contact with anyone who witnessed the altercation. If someone can back up your version of events, you have a better chance of beating the charges.
Police Reports – The next thing your attorney will do is to get the police reports from the incident. This is crucial, not only because it allows the attorney to get the cop’s version of events, but it helps the attorney understand how the prosecution will attack the case. Knowing how your opponent is going to attack gives you a better chance to defend yourself.
Next Steps
Review, Review, Review – You attorney won’t just read over the documents once, he’ll pour over them again and again until he has a solid plan of attack. You’ll be hearing from your attorney during this stage, as he’ll be asking you questions and explaining how he plans to defend your case.
Plea Plans – Even if you don’t have plans to take a plea deal, your attorney is going to be in contact with the prosecutor. They’ll talk over some options and your attorney will share them with you. Again, you don’t have to take a deal, but in some cases, it may be your best bet.
Plan and Execute – In the days before trial, your attorney will be putting the finishing touches on his strategy. He’ll know how he’s going to attack the prosecution’s claims, what questions he’ll ask during cross examination and where he’ll want to object should the prosecution attempt to paint a certain narrative. Then, all that’s left is to put the plan into motion.
Assuming your attorney did his due diligence and his strategy goes as planned, you’ll have a good chance of getting a reduced sentence, or better yet, getting the charges dropped all together. If you have any questions to ask an attorney, or you’d like more information about challenging your case, contact us today.
