What Exactly Does a Criminal Attorney in Baltimore Do?
Due to the high crime rate, there are more than 10,000 lawyers in Baltimore. Even so, there aren’t many criminal attorneys worth your freedom. So, before you choose one for your case, here is what you need to look for in your Baltimore criminal defense attorney.
What does a Baltimore criminal defense attorney do?
Trials are stressful. An attorney can be your best ally or worst enemy, depending on their skill level.
Your criminal case attorney must possess excellent communication skills, show empathy towards others, be attentive, responsive, and demonstrate social intelligence. They should be neutral, open-minded, and have good mediating skills to strike a beneficial deal for you.
But that’s not all! Their responsibilities also include:
Investigation
If you face criminal charges, it is essential that you understand what happens during the investigation so that you can begin your defense right away. That’s why a criminal defense attorney will first want to see what the facts are so that they can plan their strategy and try to reduce the penalty as much as possible for you.
Your attorney will also consult with investigators, the police, and other law enforcement personnel involved in your case to ensure they have concrete data with them.
Fact and evidence examination
Since defending your case involves looking at the facts presented by the state, it is best if you hire an experienced Baltimore criminal defense attorney who will be able to do just that.
Criminal law can be complicated. Sometimes, the prosecution may not have enough evidence, make legal errors, or follow proper procedure. Your attorney should be able to see through that, spot these gaps, discredit any false evidence, and make your case stronger.
Jury selection
Jury selection is probably the most important part of a criminal trial. This is where the lawyer meets the candidate jurors and gets to know them better. It is during this time that juror bias (pre-conceived notions on the issue of guilt or innocence) can be revealed and eliminated from the candidate pool.
Your defense attorney must be able to seat a jury that is favorable to you and eliminate an unfair jury verdict due to any biases created during the proceedings.
Plea bargaining
A plea bargain is a negotiated agreement between a defendant and the prosecutor. The prosecutor agrees to less severe punishment for a defendant in exchange for their confession to the crime or testimony against other defendants.
And while It all comes down to what the client wants, it is the attorney’s job to perform the negotiation.
If they just want to avoid jail time and/or want their record cleared then an attorney will try and negotiate something like anger management classes. If they want to go to court and try and beat the charges, then it is up to the lawyer to put on a winning case for them.
Legal counseling
Being charged with a criminal offense is something that can be worrisome, especially if you are not familiar with the criminal justice system.
A good criminal lawyer will explain to you the what and the how of your case and inform you about the possible outcomes and the process of trial.
Since you will be expected to answer questions honestly and accurately, your criminal attorney should also be able to guide you on what to expect during the days leading up to your trial as well as the process that occurs thereafter.
Argument, defense, and appeal
An attorney can ease your stress and help you preserve your rights. But they can’t do that without knowing how to put up a solid argument against the prosecutor’s claims.
A good criminal defense lawyer is specially trained and experienced to gain fair trials for his clients. They will stand by you to defend your constitutional rights by representing you during police questioning, at trial. They will also be responsible to appeal any verdict against you and get an impartial deal for you.
When to hire a criminal defense lawyer in Baltimore
Since lawyers require tens and hundreds of hours to perform background research and prepare case files, you need to hire a criminal defense attorney as soon as you learn about your charges. This will fast-track the legal process and ensure you have the support you need right from the beginning, which will prevent you from making any mistakes.
That being said, choosing a lawyer is never an easy decision, especially if your freedom is at stake. That’s why it finding an attorney is often more difficult than simply typing “criminal lawyers near me” on search engines.
You need to make sure you hire an attorney who believes in you and your case enough to dedicate their time to it. They should also be experienced with the type of crime you have been charged with and aware of the Baltimore legal system.
Should you opt for a private criminal attorney or a court-appointed attorney?
Every individual has the right to make their case and defend themselves in a court of law. So, if you don’t have a criminal attorney, the court will appoint one to you at no cost. But as you are aware, free doesn’t always mean good.
Court-appointed lawyers often handle large piles of case files. They are responsible for multiple cases at one time and may not be able to treat your case with the same priority as a private attorney.
A private attorney charges you in exchange for their time and a firm commitment to your case. Because they get more time to work on your case, they are able to deliver stronger arguments in your favor.
Another benefit that people rarely consider is that a private attorney’s payment model provides them with security and lessens their possibility of client abandonment – which can ultimately make the entire legal process stress-free for you.
So, if your priority isn’t money but getting excellent legal representation, you will stand to benefit more from a private attorney than a court-appointed one.
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