If you are in trouble with the law, then you should retain the services of a lawyer. You need such help immediately. Being arrested and charged with a crime is not a little problem. Once the authorities have you in custody, events can move faster than you are able to process them. That is why you need an advocate who will fight for the preservation of your rights and will ensure that you are treated fairly and impartially.
Why You Need a Criminal Lawyer
Being arrested is a daunting experience. It can be frightening and intimidating; it can leave you feeling without hope or recourse. The system is designed to have this effect. And it may seem that the best thing you can do is cooperate with the authorities. This is an unwise move. You should instead exercise your Fifth Amendment right to remain silent. The police cannot compel you to say anything; they cannot force you to make any statement that might incriminate you.
Calling a lawyer is the best—and smartest—response to an arrest. Once your lawyer arrives, they will advise you on how to answer questions. Or, they can speak for you if you are not up to it. Your lawyer will also examine the evidence the police have against you. It is often the case that law enforcement officials do not have the evidence they say they do against persons in custody. If your lawyer sees they have nothing concrete that connects you to the crime you have been accused of, they will arrange for your release.
Building Your Defense
If it turns out that the authorities do have enough evidence to charge you with a crime, then your lawyer can begin building your defense. However, you will first need to decide whether you have the right lawyer for the job. Here are 7 necessary qualities when choosing a good lawyer:
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Good communication skills
Your lawyer should have excellent oral and written communication skills. They should also know how to listen. Indeed, one of the first things your lawyer will do is ask you to recount the events leading up to your imprisonment. They will need to discern whether any laws were broken or improprieties forced on you during this process.
If your case goes to trial, your lawyer will need to argue convincingly before a judge and jury. This makes good public speaking skills essential.
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Judgment
Legal cases rest on facts, evidence, and logic. Your lawyer must have the ability to draw logical conclusions from the information presented to them. They must also be able to evaluate the logic and coherence of the case made against you. It is their job to spot the weaknesses in it, to point them out, and refute them if possible.
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Analytical Skills
Your lawyer must know the law, and they must be able to employ the relevant parts of it to your case. The ability to review the evidence and the case against you in light of the laws and statues in place is essential to building a good defense. The prosecution may try to offer evidence or act in ways that are contrary to the law. Your attorney must be able to apply the correct precedents to counter such moves.
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Research skills
Your lawyer must be able to find, comprehend, and absorb large amounts of information. This includes making inquiries into the backgrounds of the officers who arrested you and other potential suspects.
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People skills
Your lawyer must be personable and well-adjusted socially. If your case goes to trial, they may need to deal with the judge and the prosecution on their own. They must also be able to read others and to gauge the reactions of the members of the jury to their claims, statements, and tactics.
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Perseverance
Nothing less than your life is at stake if you have been charged with a crime. You should work with a lawyer who is a fighter. You need someone in your corner who will go on no matter what. When their original plan or strategy is upended, when an unexpected event throws the defense they have developed into disarray, your lawyer must keep going.
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Creativity
Your lawyer should also have the capacity to formulate creative solutions to complex problems.
The criminal law firm Potts can help you resolve your legal problems.