Criminal defense attorneys handle all types of cases involving citizens accused of committing crimes. Almost any crime could involve criminal defense work, although some are more common than others. Criminal offenses include drug crimes, property crimes, financial crimes (such as embezzlement), violent crimes (assault or murder), and even white-collar crimes (tax evasion or money laundering).
The type of case that an attorney has will not only affect the path to dealing with it but also the fees for handling it. Not every lawyer handles every kind of case possible, so a person must find one who specializes in his type of problem. The fees typically will depend on the nature of the offense as well as how much time was spent working on it. Usually, this includes the number of court hearings and length of time spent in the trial, if necessary.
As a person begins the search for a Fort Worth Criminal Defense Attorney, he should know that fees will be discussed before any work is done on his case. His lawyer will take into account the severity of the offense and how much effort will need to go into building a sound defense strategy. An attorney may offer a free consultation so that a potential client can discuss his situation as well as all legal options available. This allows both parties to understand what to expect from the process as well as determine whether this is an appropriate match. Criminal law can have serious consequences for those accused, so it’s important for people to not only seek out representation but also someone they feel comfortable working with.
The most common types of cases that criminal defense attorneys handle are listed below. This is not a complete list but does include the most usual kinds of cases in which people will need legal representation.
– Drug crimes
– Property crimes
– Financial crimes – Embezzlement, money laundering, etc.
– White-collar crimes – Tax evasion or fraud, for example
– Violent crimes – Assault or even murder
When should I hire a criminal defense attorney?
The decision to hire a criminal defense attorney is generally one that should be taken very seriously. As hectic as the situation might seem, never make the mistake of representing yourself in court. Self-representation can lead to jail time, fines and penalties, or even imprisonment in some cases.
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It’s important to keep in mind that not all situations are black or white when it comes to hiring an attorney. If you have been arrested, but are unsure whether you need representation, there may be certain factors that would cause you to benefit from having your own legal counsel on your side.
19 Reasons You May Want To Hire A Criminal Defense Attorney
1) You are facing prison time for an offense that carries this penalty unless represented by a lawyer, or 2) You are facing any type of felony offense.
In the United States, if you are convicted of a crime that can carry a prison sentence, you will need to have your own attorney who specializes in criminal defense to ensure that all necessary measures and considerations for your case and future prospects are properly taken. Without representation by an experienced legal professional, there is little chance that these aspects would be realized or fully understood by yourself or another non-attorney person. Even in misdemeanor cases where jail time is not typically handed down as part of a sentence , it doesn’t mean that other penalties such as fines and community service may still be imposed upon the accused. Having representation from the beginning ensures that no opportunity for job advancement or higher education is missed over a poor court decision. Some offenses have mandatory fines associated with them, so not hiring an attorney means you could be forced to spend money you don’t have on top of being jailed or receiving other penalties for your actions.
2) You are facing charges that carry the potential for significant damage to your reputation .
Reputation damage can come in many forms, including but not limited to: damaging someone’s character via accusations against their honesty, having false information published against you, being labeled as a domestic abuser or sex offender, and even something as simple as having unflattering mug shot photos seen by others. Whether it was intentional or accidental , if you find yourself facing any type of criminal charge which could affect how others view you, you’ll want to protect yourself with the assistance of a criminal defense attorney. Even if your case is dismissed , the damage has already been done by this point unless you had someone there looking out for your interests during the entire legal process .
3) Your employer recommended it .
If your employer or other representative within your industry says that hiring an attorney is necessary, take them seriously! For example, let’s say that an air traffic controller was arrested on drug possession charges and his supervisor tells him to hire a criminal defense attorney due to his line of work being governed by federal laws. If he didn’t get representation despite what just occurred, he would not be allowed to retain his job even if found innocent of all charges in court. The same holds true for individuals in any type of profession where their license is regulated by federal authorities. It may be because the charges are too serious, or it could just be that they are governed by strict law enforcement agencies who have rules to follow when it comes to interacting with the public.
4) Your family recommended it .
If your spouse, child, parent, sibling, relative or close friend said that you need an attorney because of what may happen if you don’t seek out legal representation at this time, listen to them! If someone close to you recognizes potential consequences related to your case and wants to spare you from them down the line , there’s a good chance they know what they’re talking about! Their advice typically only results in saving you time, money and headache!
5) You feel that you’re in over your head with the charges against you .
On the opposite side of the spectrum, this point typically only applies to people who are either newly arrested or tried for criminal offenses they’ve never faced before. This is because when someone has committed several offenses in the past , there’s a good chance they understand how their situation will play out in court. However, people who have no experience dealing with the legal system may panic when unanticipated charges come up unexpectedly. If you recently found yourself involved in a criminal case where you were not expecting certain penalties to be associated with it, hiring an attorney becomes more important than ever! It doesn’t matter if it was something as simple as a misdemeanor charge or as serious as felony charges , this is the time to get in touch with legal representation if you weren’t already.