Fighting A Criminal Charge? Ditch The Public Defender And Get Personal

Public defenders are not typically able to pick and choose their cases based on their schedules or personal preferences– cases are handed over to them by the court system, and many times they get behind or overwhelmed with their workloads. This can leave a lot to be desired when it comes to getting the personal attention and support you need throughout your criminal case to ensure an optimal outcome.

For this reason, it's important to consider working with a personal defense attorney that has the time and inclination to work through all aspects of your case and provide you with several different solutions that are tailored to your individual circumstances.

Affording a Personal Attorney

If the idea of paying a personal lawyer to defend you seems out of your budget, you might be surprised to know that there are many criminal defense attorneys out there who are willing to take payments for their services. Some lawyers even offer their services a la carte, so you can pay them to draft some paperwork or represent you in a court hearing for a specified fee instead of having to pay them per hour to handle all aspects of your case from beginning to end.

Working with a Personal Attorney

Your personal attorney will have more time to spend with you and your case than a public defender likely would. So you should be prepared to commit a few hours a month to meet with your representative, to handle emails and phone calls between one another, and to manage your paperwork.

Of course, you shouldn't be expected to accept last-minute meeting requests unless necessary, but you may have to agree on a weekly schedule until your case gets settled. Ask your attorney about time commitments that will be expected of you upon hiring them, so you have an idea of how much work will be put into finding a solution to your case.

Making the Tough Decisions

It's important to remember that although your attorney is well qualified and has the experience it takes to make sound negotiations on your behalf, you are the ultimate decision maker in your case. Your lawyer will probably ask you a lot of tough decision making questions as your case progresses, so be prepared to take a stance and let them know exactly how you're feeling about the specific situation in question. Don't leave the decision making up to your attorney. They don't need the extra pressure, and you deserve to have full control over your case.

Overall, working with a personal criminal defense attorney is sure to provide you with the support and representation you deserve.