A criminal defense lawyer, also known as criminal lawyer, is a lawyer who defends a person or institution charged with committing a crime. A criminal defense lawyer is usually a barrister who speaks in the higher courts of law on behalf of their clients.
A criminal defense lawyer handles criminal cases such as arson, assault, battery, bribery, burglary, crime, cybercrime, domestic violence, embezzlement, extortion, forgery, hate crimes, homicide and identity theft.
A criminal defense lawyer also deals with cases like juvenile delinquency, kidnapping, organized crime, money laundering, robbery, tax evasion, theft, vandalism, violence and white-collar crime.
Duties of a Criminal Defense Lawyer
A criminal defense attorney performs the following functions:
Assessing a Case
A good criminal defense lawyer looks at a case thoroughly and considers all the aspects to see if their client has a case. Even if their client is at fault, the lawyer knows how to handle the case after looking at it carefully.
Analyzing Situations
A criminal defense attorney analyzes and judges a situation. This helps them identify and capitalize on loopholes in the prosecution as well as strategize to win a case. Where they fail to win the case outright, at least they can get the charges lowered given their good analytical skills.
Collecting Information
Information is crucial to winning a case. A good criminal defense lawyer usually visits the scene of crime to collect proof and other necessary information to strengthen their case. They can also talk to witnesses in order to gather information necessary to win a case. Without adequate information at their disposal, a criminal defense lawyer will find it difficult to represent their client well and argue a case convincingly.
Interpreting Laws
It is equally the duty of a criminal attorney to interpret laws for their clients. This helps such clients to understand the legal options available to them.
Representing Clients
A criminal attorney represents their client if they are arraigned. They can also represent their clients during hearings or trials.
Preparing Documents
A criminal lawyer prepares and drafts legal documents like legal briefs and appeals. While a legal brief states the facts and points of law of a client’s case, an appeal seeks to obtain from a higher court a review of the decision of a lower court and a reversal of the lower court’s judgment or the granting of a new trial.
Updating Clients
It is also the duty of a good criminal defense attorney to tell their clients the level of progress they have so far made in a case. This is necessary since the lawyer can appear several times in court on behalf of their clients.
Protecting Client’s Interest
A criminal defense lawyer protects the interest of their clients. That is why they should be well-versed in laws and appeals which can be used to protect the interest of their clients before the law. They should also know the rights of an individual and emphasize them while defending their clients.
Negotiating Pleas
A criminal lawyer can negotiate a plea bargain for their client for them to admit to committing a crime in exchange for the dropping of a more serious charge. They can also negotiate for a lesser punishment or for an out-of-court settlement.
If you have recently been charged for committing a crime, Lewis Law is ready to help. Lewis Law has won over 94% of cases in more than 1,000 court appearances and succeeded in securing the reduction of the sentences of over 340 of those cases. They are an experienced and innovative criminal defense and injury law firm in Northern Virginia.
For more information or inquiries, call Lewis Law’s toll-free number (703) 591-4507, visit their office at 3925 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 202 Fairfax, VA 22030 or get your free consultation today.
