Current legislation does not differentiate lawyers based on their specialization. That is, any person who has received the status of a lawyer under the established procedure has the right to provide services in criminal cases. From a formal point of view, to act as a defense attorney for an accused or suspect, it is sufficient to present a lawyer’s ID and a warrant from a lawyer’s association. However, we all understand the significant role experience and specialization play in jurisprudence. Therefore, it is crucial to make the right choice and get the services of the most suitable specialist. So, we asked the Go To Court experts to give basic selection recommendations.
Why Do You Need a Criminal Lawyer?
No modern person is protected from the prospect of becoming a suspect or accused in a case related to violations of the Law. Moreover, you can encounter this even without committing any criminal acts. When you find yourself in a difficult situation, you first must promptly contact a qualified lawyer for the appropriate specialization.
It is not recommended to waste time. Otherwise, it will turn against the accused. If the threat of imprisonment has arisen before you or your family members, consulting a professional lawyer is a priority task. It is essential to choose a genuinely experienced and competent lawyer who can take on a specific case, ensuring the protection of the rights and interests of his ward in court.
It is no secret that law enforcement officers rush when considering cases. Authorized officials strive to complete the case as quickly as possible to submit a report on the work earlier. In such circumstances, a qualified lawyer will develop an individual line of defense for the ward and prevent a possible violation of the client’s rights and freedoms. By choosing an experienced defense attorney, you can avoid punishment or minimize the degree of liability for a crime.
A court is a confrontation between the parties, where the defendant’s opponents are people who have the necessary knowledge of current legislation and know how to use it correctly. To win this confrontation or minimize potential losses and negative consequences, there are only two options — get a decent legal education or use the services of a competent lawyer.
Quite often, choosing a good specialist is accompanied by significant difficulties.
How to Choose Right
In Australia, you can use Go To Court services. However, the selection process is similar in any country. To choose the right lawyer, you need to pay attention to the basic requirements for a potential defender:
- The official status of a lawyer confirms the fact of taking the appropriate oath and successfully passing the necessary exams. After receiving this status, the defender goes through the registration procedure in the official register of the Bar Association. The register is freely available on the Internet. You can check the status and registration personally. Please note that the presence of the status in question significantly confirms the professionalism and legality of the defender’s actions. The lawyer has no right to conduct the case without the appropriate status.
- Higher legal education. The more authoritative the theoretical basis of the potential defender’s training, the more promising the cooperation with him. Another factor in favor of the candidate is the presence of an academic degree or higher education at the postgraduate level. If any questions arise about the defender’s professionalism, you have the right to request to review the diploma and additional documents confirming the lawyer’s education level.
- Sufficient work experience and legal practice. It applies to general advocacy and specific legal practice in a particular specialty. A significant advantage in favor of an attorney is that he or she worked as an investigator or prosecutor in the past. As a rule, such a lawyer is well-versed in the area of Criminal Law and can competently use the norms and provisions of the relevant legislation.
What to Look Out For
Of course, it is challenging to determine how good a criminal lawyer is before he or she has provided you with legal assistance. Moreover, the concept of “good” is very subjective and relative. However, there are some general criteria.
First, specialization is essential since only a lawyer who specializes in assisting in criminal cases will be able to provide you with genuinely high-quality assistance. At the same time, in most cases, there is no need to look for a criminal lawyer who specializes in defense for specific types of crimes (for example, murder or fraud), since regardless of the kind of crime for which assistance is required, law enforcement officers always act based on the same legal norms.
A criminal lawyer who can be described as a good specialist, maintains a business style of dress, is disciplined and discreet, does not guarantee you a positive result and never boasts about having connections among law enforcement officers, knows how to correctly and formulate his thoughts, has an impeccable reputation and, unlike lawyers specializing in other areas of Law (for example, in arbitration proceedings), puts the protection of the rights of his client at the forefront, and not receiving a fee (profit), treats his profession as a calling that does not have the goal of making a profit or other goals inherent in any commercial enterprise.
Conclusion
The situation in which you may need the services of a criminal lawyer is already stressful enough. Don’t add to it by skimping on a defense attorney or choosing the first one you come across. Do your due diligence and gather information. Then, meet the lawyer in person and evaluate his or her demeanor, dress style, etc. By putting all the facts together, you can make an informed decision.
