the value of hiring an attorney for your troubled child
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the value of hiring an attorney for your troubled child

The first time my son got into some legal trouble, I didn't hire an attorney. I figured that he would just get a slap on the wrist and that he should accept his punishment, and that's what happened. The second time he got into trouble, I had to hire an attorney. I knew that since he had a record, the judge would not be so lenient about his punishment and he could suffer some serious consequences that could haunt him for his entire life. If you have a troubled child, my blog could help you understand the value of hiring an attorney for him or her.

the value of hiring an attorney for your troubled child

What Can A Criminal Defense Lawyer For You?

Owen Bertrand

If you've been arrested, you may not fully understand the gravity of your situation at first. You've been accused of committing a crime, and you have a right to fight those charges. To do so, you will need help from a lawyer who practices criminal law. The below information can provide you with an idea off the wide scope of tasks most criminal lawyers perform. Read on to find out more.

Information and Communication

Your first meeting with a lawyer will mostly consist of information gathering. The lawyer will interview you and find out what led you to be accused of a crime. In addition to the information you provide, your lawyer will access evidence held by the state against you. This can mean the arrest report, weapons, drugs, photographs, and more. They may also conduct an investigation into the case and interview witnesses and collect additional information. For example, the state might have a witness that identifies you as the perpetrator of the crime. Your lawyer, however, is able to find another witness that identifies someone that looks nothing like you. Using their knowledge of criminal law, they form a defense case from the available information.

Advise and Support

Almost all criminal matters end with a plea bargain. This avoids a trial and shortens the process for everyone. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to know when to accept the deal and when to go to trial. Once your lawyer has a grasp on the evidence against you, they can advise you on the deal. If the state has a weak case and you have a strong case, you may be better off going to trial. If you have a lot of evidence against you, you might be taking the chance that the jury will find you guilty and the sentence will be worst than that of a plea bargain. Advice is all the lawyer can give you, and plea bargains are the decision of the defendant.

Defensive Moves

If you end up going to trial, your lawyer will prepare to defend you. The will participate in jury selection, where they try to choose jurors who they think are more likely to be sympathetic to your case. With their opening statement, they will summarize what they hope to prove or disprove during the trial. They will question those testifying on your behalf as well as those for the state. For example, for a DUI case, they might question the expertise of the law enforcement officer who conducted the field sobriety tests.

As you can see, a criminal defense attorney uses a variety of skills to prove their clients innocent. Speak to a lawyer to find out more.


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