When you have been charged with a crime, your future is on the line. A criminal lawyer will not only be a good idea, but it will be a requirement. But what are the duties of a criminal lawyer? For most people, courtroom drama immediately comes to mind, but the job is much more than that — there is strategy, investigation, negotiation, and tireless protection of your rights to consider. At Manderscheid Law Firm, PLLC, we focus on providing relentless defense for clients across Pinellas County, preparing carefully and zealously fighting for your rights.
In the following post, we break down exactly what are the duties of a criminal lawyer cover, along with how each one contributes to the building of a strong and equitable defense.
Case Analysis as a Building Block for the Defense
A good criminal lawyer’s first task is to examine your case thoroughly. This includes analyzing reports, evidence, statements of witnesses, and all the other applicable records. In this stage, your attorney will look to see if your constitutional rights were violated, or if evidence was legally gathered, and/or what weak points there are in the prosecutor’s case.
Through conducting this analysis, your criminal defense lawyer can craftily create a line of defense that is custom-designed for your situation. At Manderscheid Law Firm, PLLC, we believe in performing a determination assessment right out of the gate so we can do everything we can to create a powerful defense as early on in the process as possible.
Client Communication and Counseling
Aside from legal tactics, a criminal lawyer should help you keep yourself well-informed. Facing a criminal charge is a terrifying experience, and you are entitled to know what is happening at every level. Frequent updates will help you grasp what you are being charged for, what to expect, and what is on the table.
A good lawyer will also counsel you on how you should conduct yourself while your case is pending, tell you what to say (or not to say), and what kind of behavior can help or hurt your defense. At Manderscheid Law Firm, PLLC, we believe in being transparent so our clients never feel left in the dark.
Investigation and Fact-Finding
What is the role of a criminal lawyer? Independent investigation is another vital task. Defense lawyers don’t just take what the other side says happened at face value; they investigate. This can include:
- Visiting the crime scene
- Interviewing witnesses
- Consulting with expert analysts
- Gathering physical or forensic evidence
At Manderscheid Law Firm, PLLC, we work with investigators and experts to find evidence that can exonerate you or poke holes in the state’s case. This kind of hard-nosed truth-seeking is what evens the playing field and guarantees a fair process.
Schedule A FREE ConsultationPre-Trial Motions and Hearings
A criminal case is not all trial, all the time. Your lawyer has to get through the slew of pre-trial motions, challenging those that have been filed against you; file motions to suppress any illegally obtained evidence; move to have any related charges that are unnecessarily attached to your case dismissed, or for a change of venue. These hearings can have a significant impact on the final result of your case before the first word is uttered to a jury.
Drafting effective pre-trial motions is a highly technical skill, and Manderscheid Law Firm, PLLC, and our lawyers have extensive experience challenging defective practices and safeguarding constitutional rights.
Plea Negotiation and Bargaining
And sometimes the best result for a client is a plea bargain. It is an intensely personal decision to go to trial versus taking a plea deal, but your lawyer’s role is to make sure the best terms possible (but given the circumstances, of course) are offered if you want to negotiate.
That includes working with prosecutors, hopefully to cut charges, reduce punishments or obtain alternatives to prison like rehabilitation. Manderscheid Law Firm, PLLC, works with you for the best possible outcome, combining expertise with a caring touch that puts your interests before any other consideration.
Trial Representation and Advocacy
If you’re not willing to, or your lawyer doesn’t view it as the best option, fight! What does a criminal defense attorney do in the trial period? In court, your attorney will:
- Deliver opening and closing statements
- Cross-examine prosecution witnesses
- Present your witnesses and evidence
- Object to inadmissible evidence or questioning.
- Persuasively argue your defense theory
In high-stakes trials, experience and confidence count. Attorneys at Manderscheid Law Firm, PLLC, have handled high-stakes criminal matters with great success, fighting relentlessly for clients’ freedom and reputation.
Ethical and Constitutional Protection
Everyone charged with a crime is entitled to the protections of the Constitution. It’s one of a criminal lawyer’s most basic tasks to defend these protections — your right not to speak, your right to face your accusers, your right to a fair trial, to name just a few.
Your attorney is a barrier between you and potentially abusive conduct by the government to prevent you from being wrongfully convicted or illegally treated. At Manderscheid Law Firm, PLLC, we take this obligation very seriously and represent our clients with honesty and dignity.
Final Thoughts
If you or someone you love has been charged with a crime, you do not have to go through this alone. Contact a company that knows what the responsibilities of a criminal lawyer are and has the experience to perform them at the highest level.
Call Manderscheid Law Firm, PLLC, for a free and private consultation. We will fight for you, work to preserve your rights, and ensure that you are given the defense that you are due. Call today to set up a meeting and begin the process of restoring your future.
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