Facing Criminal Charges? How a Lawyer Can Protect Your Rights

Legal representation is a constitutional right for defendants facing criminal charges. If the defendant can't afford one, the court has to assign them a public defender. 

However, hiring a criminal defense lawyer could give you an advantage because they can afford to allocate more resources to your case. This guide highlights how a lawyer helps protect your rights to ensure you get the best outcomes. 

Investigating and Evidence-Gathering

The prosecution is responsible for proving a case beyond a reasonable doubt. You, on the other hand, do not have to prove your innocence. You only have to introduce reasonable doubts in the jury's mind. Evidence gathering and investigation play a critical part in this. 

So, as part of protecting your rights, your lawyer analyzes the prosecution's evidence and police reports and conducts witness interviews to build a strong defense. Sometimes, they may also collaborate with private investigators and experts to get to the bottom of an issue to uphold your rights. 

Legal Strategy and Defense Planning

Every case is unique. As such, you must tailor your defense strategy to a case's circumstances. Sometimes, they may recommend taking a plea deal. At other times, they may recommend going to trial. Plea deals are more applicable in situations where they believe you could get a conviction, and it means taking a guilty plea for a less severe crime and avoiding trial. On the other hand, a lawyer may opt to go to trial when they feel they have a solid case and their chances of winning are high.

Court Representation

The court is no place for the layperson. Not only will you not understand the procedures, but you may not fully understand your rights, which could mean poor outcomes. Also, you waste everyone else's time as you catch up with court processes. 

Some of the functions a lawyer will help you in court include filing paperwork, presenting your case before the court, cross-examining witnesses and applying appropriate legal motions to uphold your rights. 

Having legal representation at trial doesn't guarantee the outcomes you hope for. Also, a favorable outcome doesn't necessarily mean you do not get a conviction. In some cases, they can work to minimize the penalties you get at conviction by leveraging caveats in law that could work in your favor. 

This role doesn't end with a conviction and sentencing. You have a right to an appeal if you feel like there was a miscarriage of justice in your case's adjudication. However, losing a case does not give you grounds for getting an appeal. You must provide evidence of a miscarriage of justice. 

Emotional Support

The least talked about role of a layer is the emotional support they provide. When facing charges for crimes deemed by society as grievous, they could be among the few who may not have qualms associated with you. 

Thankfully, lawyers have experience working with people in similar situations and can understand your predicament and lend you a shoulder to lean on. While empathy may not add anything to the quality of their legal representation, it can help you feel much better when navigating your case.