Picking a Chicago Criminal Defense Lawyer to Represent You in Court

Being in trouble with the law is no laughing matter. If you are being charged with a crime in city of Chicago, then you are in need of solid legal counsel to help you get prepared for your upcoming court case. Hiring a Chicago criminal defense attorney is a challenge, as there are many different types of these lawyers that have practices in the city, and each has their own specialty in criminal law. There are a couple of different things to look for when you are looking for a Chicago criminal defense attorney that will help make your choice a bit easier. 

If you are in need of legal counsel, you want to have a Chicago criminal defense attorney who has an experienced team that works with him or her. You want an attorney who works closely with investigators and has great assistants to help build your case and look at the evidence objectively. The point of having a Chicago criminal defense lawyer is to make sure that you get a fair and objective trial and that your rights are protected. If the lawyer has a close working relationship with reliable investigators and assistants, these individuals combined into one team will protect your rights and make sure you are truly innocent until proven guilty. 

One of the things you need to think about when considering a Chicago criminal defense lawyer is someone who truly believes in your case. You want someone who is really going to go to bat for you and help you in any way possible. This might mean helping you get a reduced sentence or doing all in their power to prove that the evidence in your case is not enough to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you are guilty of the crime.

Another important thing you need to know before hiring a Chicago criminal defense lawyer is how much experience they have in working on cases like your own. For example, if you are facing drug charges and the lawyer you are looking at has tons of experience in traffic law, but little to none in the area of illegal drugs, this attorney is not going to be much help. You need an attorney with experience dealing with your particular case.

A Guide to the Various Duties of a Chicago Criminal Lawyer

When facing criminal charges, it is of critical importance to hire a Chicago criminal lawyer to help assist you in putting together a solid defense for your court case. Many individuals who are first time offenders try to go it alone and represent themselves, but this is not a wise decision. If you are looking into retaining or hiring a Chicago criminal lawyer but are not sure exactly what they do, here is a brief guide about their duties and responsibilities. 

The greatest duty and responsibility of a Chicago criminal lawyer is to make sure that each and every client receives a fair trial, regardless of whether they are guilty or not. Everyone who is a United States citizen is guaranteed the right of a fair trial by the Constitution. The role of the criminal attorney in Chicago is to make sure that your rights are protected. Many of these lawyers work with a staff of investigators and legal assistants who are dedicated to making sure that any evidence presented against you was obtained through legal means. If any evidence presented in the case was obtained illegally, a criminal attorney in Chicago can help dismiss the evidence and possibly the case as a means of protecting your Constitutional rights. 

Another duty and responsibility of a criminal attorney in Chicago is to negotiate for a deal or plea bargain on your behalf. Attempting to cut a deal without the counsel and aid of a lawyer is extremely unwise, as you could end up hurting your case all in an attempt to save money on hiring an attorney. An experienced attorney who has been practicing the law for years will have plenty of experience in negotiating the type of deals that will best benefit you and your situation.

Your attorney is also responsible for laying out all of the options that are available for you and can help you choose the one best suited for your particular case. The attorney will create a defense case or plan for you that might help you avoid a conviction and avoid spending any serious time in a county or federal prison.

A Chicago Criminal Lawyer Can Protect Your Rights

The motto of the United States legal system is that you are innocent until proven guilty. Unfortunately, this is sometimes not practiced accurately in our legal system and some people are treated as though they have already been convicted of a crime. This can take form in how you are handled by the police before, during, and after an arrest or during your criminal trial by the prosecution. This is why it is highly recommended that if you are facing criminal charges in Illinois you need to hire a Chicago criminal lawyer. 

One of the ways that a criminal attorney in Chicago can help protect your rights is by being present during any type of questioning or interrogation done by law enforcement officers. Many individuals get panicked when they are being questioned and begin saying things that end up incriminating them. If questioning and interrogation is not done in a manner that complies with the Constitution and state and local laws, the information gathered in the interrogation cannot be used in court. A Chicago criminal lawyer will put your treatment by law enforcement under scrutiny to make sure that you receive the fair trial that your Constitutional rights as an American citizen guarantee you.

A Chicago Criminal Defense Lawyer Can Protect Your Constitutional Rights

One of the main reasons you should hire a Chicago criminal defense lawyer if you are facing charges in Illinois is that they can make sure your Constitutional rights are protected. Despite the fact that you are being charged with committing a crime, the Constitution guarantees you certain rights to make sure that you are not wrongfully accused or convicted of a crime. These rights give you certain protections that many law enforcement officers sometimes unwittingly violate. The violation of your Constitutional rights is a serious matter that should not be taken lightly.

A Chicago criminal defense attorney will make sure you receive a fair trial as guaranteed by the Constitution. This means the defense attorney will help make sure that the jury that is selected is random and not somehow stacked against you. A good Chicago criminal defense lawyer will make sure that law enforcement had the proper paperwork and legal authorization before confiscating the property that will be used as evidence against you. Your attorney will also examine how you were questioned during your arrest to make sure law enforcement officers did not in some way coerce or force you to answer questions without your rights first being read and a waiver of the right to remain silent until your attorney was present.

How a Chicago Criminal Lawyer Can Benefit You

Facing criminal charges, whether they are for a felony offense or a misdemeanor, can be a frightening experience. The great news is that you do not have to face those charges alone nor give up hope that you will have to endure a stiff punishment if convicted for those charges. If you are facing charges in the Chicago area, you need to hire a Chicago criminal lawyer immediately. There are many benefits to hiring a criminal attorney in Chicago.

One of those benefits of being represented by a Chicago criminal lawyer is the ability to negotiate or reach a plea bargain. This means that your attorney can sit down and cut a deal for a lesser sentence with the prosecution if you plead a certain way (such as pleading guilty to a crime you committed). A good criminal lawyer will create a defense that will call into question the authenticity of the evidence or testimony against you in an attempt to cast reasonable doubt about whether or not you are guilty of committing the crime. Your defense attorney will ask tough questions as a means to ensure that all of your rights are protected and that you receive a fair trial as guaranteed by the Constitution.

Characteristics of a Good Chicago Criminal Defense Attorney

If you are facing any type of criminal charges in the Chicago area, you need good legal representation from a well-respected Chicago defense attorney. There are a lot of attorneys in the Chicago area, but you need more than just a cold, calculated student of the law. You need someone who truly has your best interest at heart and who will do their best to offer you top notch legal protection and that you get treated fairly during your trial. There are certain characteristics that you should look for when looking to hire a Chicago criminal defense lawyer.

As stated above, one of the most important characteristics a Chicago defense attorney needs to possess is a passion for the law. Your attorney needs to believe in the system and be passionate about making sure that you are treated as innocent until proven guilty. A good criminal lawyer possesses confidence and aggressively defends your case by calling the evidence of the prosecution into question and scrutiny. Your defense attorney should be someone who has many years of experience in dealing with the particular charges you are facing so that they can adequately put together a legal defense that can help avoid a damaging conviction.