Criminal defense attorneys are exactly what they sound like. They are lawyers who represent people accused of crimes. If you have been charged with a crime, you will need a criminal defense attorney to defend you. Criminal defense attorneys defend you and work to obtain the best possible outcome for your case.
Criminal defense attorneys give you the best chance to have your charges reduced, dropped, or even dismissed. In this article, we’ll tell you everything you ever wanted to know about criminal defense attorneys … and more!
What exactly do criminal defense attorneys do?
Criminal defense attorneys often have a very complicated job in criminal defense law firms in Van Nuys. Each and every case is different and requires different tactics depending on the circumstances surrounding the case. The job requires a lot more than just showing up in court and arguing on your behalf.
Before a criminal lawyer takes on a new case, they will first schedule a consultation with you. During this consultation, you will discuss the details of your case and give your attorney as much information as possible.
After this, you will be able to estimate the penalties that may result from your crime. Then they will explain what they can do to help you. After that, you need to decide whether they will meet your needs. If you choose to hire them, they will begin to work to solidify your defense.
To build her case, an attorney will likely
- Review the discovery
- Interview relevant witnesses
- Select the witnesses you would like to bring to court
- Conduct legal research on similar cases
- Schedule and hold meetings to discuss the details of the case
- Gather and review the evidence in your favor
- Provide you with legal advice
- Conduct pre-trial and trial interviews
- Write pretrial and trial motions
- Video conferences with clients and families
An experienced and hardworking criminal defense attorney will complete all of this work before you go to trial. In the event that the prosecution refuses to dismiss the case and believes that it has sufficient evidence against you, it is likely that your case should go to trial.
In the event you decide to plead guilty, your attorney will fight to get you the best possible settlement. To emphasize, this is where experience and skill make the difference.
Finally, when the trial is set, the criminal defense law firms in Van Nuys will participate in the jury selection. They will then fight their defense against the jury and work towards the best possible result.
Types of criminal lawyers
In criminal defense law firms in Van Nuys, there are two types of lawyers. There are prosecutors and defense attorneys. Attorneys for the prosecution work for the municipal, state, or federal government to prosecute the defendant in a court of law. Defense attorneys work on the other side. These attorneys defend the accused. They work to prove your innocence or mitigate your accusation.
Criminal defense attorneys work with four different types of crimes. These include:
Minor offenses
These are considered a “misdemeanor”.
- Misdemeanors are punishable by fines or imprisonment of less than one year.
- Little robbery
- Other minor offenses
Serious crimes
These crimes are much more serious
- Serious crimes are punishable by at least one year in prison.
Incipient crimes
- These are also known as “preliminary offenses” or “incomplete offenses”
- An incipient crime is an act of preparing or attempting to commit another crime.
- Examples include intent, solicitation, and conspiracy.
Strict liability violations
- To convict a strict liability crime, the prosecution will not need to demonstrate intent, knowledge, or negligence.
- This classification does not take into account any intention or state of mind at the time of the offense.
Most criminal defense law firms in Van Nuys deal with many different types of crimes. They can help you understand what area your allegations fall into and then work to help you defend it.
What is “confidential” between you and your criminal defense attorney?
All matters that you discuss in private with your lawyer are confidential information. Everything you tell your lawyer regarding your case is completely private. This is a fundamental right of all defendants within the legal system in criminal defense law firms in Van Nuys. This allows customers to be as honest as possible. In return, they can receive the best possible care and advice.
In some circumstances, an attorney may break confidentiality. This only happens if the information shared could:
- Prevent the death of another person
- Help get legal advice from another lawyer
- Cause them to need to defend themselves against allegations of misconduct.
Attorneys rarely need to share their private information. But it can happen if the circumstances are as extenuating.
How much does it cost to hire a criminal defense attorney?
Oftentimes, it is impossible to give an exact and unique amount for all criminal defense attorneys. There are many factors that go into determining cost.
Every attorney, state, and case is different and unique based on their circumstances. Given this, criminal defense costs in criminal defense law firms in Van Nuys could start from $ 1,000 and escalate to tens or even hundreds of thousands.
How long do criminal defense attorneys spend in each case?
In the same way that cases vary in cost, they also vary in duration. A case as simple as a misdemeanor will likely be resolved before going to trial. Because of this, it will not take as long as other cases. With more serious crimes, resolution takes longer. This has to do with the amount of time and resources it takes to build a strong case in your favor.
Criminal defense law firms in Van Nuys sometimes handle multiple cases in the course of a single day. However, other cases can consume all of your time for months or years.
How do I find a criminal defense attorney in Van Nuys?
You can find a criminal defense attorney in many different ways.
Hundreds of criminal defense attorneys are one click away these days.
First, if you want to find the best criminal defense for your case, you should look for an attorney in your area who handles the types of crimes you are charged with. Second, don’t forget to pay attention to reviews and testimonials from your previous clients.
Don’t just look for the cheapest attorney you can find. This will often cost you in the end. Qualified attorneys are more expensive for a reason. It is because they are good at what they do.
What if I can’t afford a criminal defense attorney?
If you’ve ever seen a crime movie or TV show, you’ve probably heard Miranda Rights read. They say, “If you can’t afford a lawyer, one will be assigned to you.” To emphasize, in the United States criminal justice system, everyone is automatically awarded an attorney.
You do not need to pay for court-appointed attorneys. However, they almost always have other cases to work on. They are often overworked. Court-appointed attorneys may have a limited time for you. If you can afford one, you should hire a private criminal defense attorney. They will be able to spend more time and focus only on you.
Also, this can be crucial if the charges you face have serious consequences.
