Criminal defense is a life-changing role to take on for those affected. You need the perfectly prepared team in your corner. Otherwise, you put yourself at a higher risk of an unfavorable ruling. Here are some of the best practices to implement to become well prepared for any trial, find the right team, and keep yourself in a position for success.
Necessary Attributes of Strong Criminal Defense
Picking the Right Battles
Evidence is going to stack in different places, and there will be other areas that are lower-hanging fruit. Finding the best battles to take on and prioritizing strategy to create solutions for the defendant is crucial. You’re not going to be able to win every battle, but the “war” is won and lost by these decisions.
Expertise
The first place to start is ample experience in this area of law. You wouldn’t trust your kitchen remodeler to repair your roof on a whim, right? The same goes for finding someone that is going to give you a strong criminal defense. While they may be an effective attorney in another area, they aren’t necessarily experienced with criminal defense.
Negotiating
Defense in any practice of law is going to come down to one’s ability to negotiate effectively in many situations. Most cases never need to see trial, which can be avoided altogether in some cases if negotiated properly. This is going to come down to the relationship of the client and the attorney, how effectively they can work in tandem, and which results are realistically attainable.
For example, an attorney that’s working with that’s been charged with an anger-related violent outburst seeking out help. If the defendant begins going to classes, seeking out anger management help, and other good habits, that’ll reflect well on the necessary change that the defendant needs to shift the tides when negotiating in the case.
Overall, an attorney that advises a defendant on how to correctly communicate their emotions and prepare them effectively for the hard-hitting questions is going to have a better chance of success. However, there needs to be mutual trust established to make this a reality. Without trust in each other’s ability to create a desirable outcome, the success rate is far lower. Strong communication and mutual trust and respect lead to better negotiating outcomes.
Media Preparation
Additionally, depending on the attention a case gets, media training is going to be very important as well. Keeping the defendant in a favorable position again will come down to this work between the attorney and defendant to create mutual trust and respect.
Everything from how to dress, how to respond effectively to questions, and what to focus on needs to be covered in these conversations. There’s always conventional preparation, but criminal defense is different. These little adjustments that an attorney needs to make in preparation can be the difference between a successful narrative and a failed one. Generally speaking, the narrative itself can at times have nothing to do with the case itself. Character deficiencies, outside issues, and more all plague media coverage of criminal law.
Particularly in 2022, social media can wage war on a defendant before they even reach trial. This is a major pivot point that attorneys need to be prepared for. Unfortunately, you can’t do much to contain it. Responding to it correctly is your best solution. Not many have experience in this area, and it can be a major factor if not responded to well.
Overall, you need to be at your coolest and most collected with your Solution Law attorney in criminal law. Having strong media preparation will set you apart in criminal law cases.
Qualities to Look for in a Criminal Defense Attorney
Communication is Everything
Without strong communication, you’re going to have a much harder time through the whole defense process. Avoid these issues by finding an apt communicator. Now, this doesn’t just mean how quickly they respond to emails. Consider how they respond to questions, for example. If you have a worry or anxiety around a particular area of your case, how do they approach working through it with you? Do they reassure you and give you detailed information on how they’re going to proceed, or simply brush it off as something they’ll handle and for you to not worry? The little details will make all the difference in communication.
Preparation
Do you feel safe, and as if your attorney is prepared? Chances are, the court is going to feel the same way. Good or bad. Make sure you find an attorney that’s preparation strategies are tireless. You can usually determine this pretty early on when speaking with your attorney. Even just in an introductory meeting, you’ll be able to quickly determine if they’re ready to give you a strong criminal defense.
Overall, there are a ton of minor details and wrinkles of strategy that attorneys implement today to make strong cases in criminal defense. But in the end, you can identify some of these base characteristics to find the best representation for you. Get in contact with your criminal defense attorney today!