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You’re under investigation for criminal wrongdoing, or you’ve recently been arrested. You are – very understandably – panicking. And as a result, you’re pretty sure you’ll never be able to sleep again. For starters, please know that you are – by no means – the first individual who has either made a mistake or been wrongfully accused of conduct they didn’t engage in. And thankfully, you are not the first individual who can potentially benefit from a winning criminal defense strategy.
No criminal defense lawyer can guarantee results because there is no way to see all the potential challenges that could arise in any particular case. However, if you choose to work with a criminal defense professional who is knowledgeable, experienced, and has a solid track record of delivering for their clients, you’ll place yourself in the best possible position to benefit from a successful outcome to your legal situation.
What Is A Criminal Defense Legal Consultation?
A criminal defense legal consultation – or case evaluation – allows you to speak with a member of a particular law firm’s team about your circumstances. You’ll be empowered to ask questions, voice concerns, and learn about your legal rights and options. You’ll also be able to learn about the firm’s approach to representation so that you have a stronger sense of what it would be like to work with them, should you choose to authorize them to advocate on behalf of your interests.
Most of the time, an initial legal consultation lasts anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour. It could take place in a law firm’s office, over the phone, or via video chat. It is worth noting that many criminal defendants don’t have the luxury of meeting an attorney for the first time in a traditional legal consultation setting. Instead, they need to call an attorney after being arrested so that the attorney can meet them wherever they are being held and advocate for the defendant’s interests on the spot. Under these circumstances, the more “traditional” legal consultation process would occur after the defendant’s interests have been taken care of after arrest and the accused has either been released from custody or needs to meet with their attorney while being held.
What Happens During A Case Evaluation Session?
The Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees that individuals facing serious criminal charges have the right to assistance from an attorney as they navigate their defense. As a result of this guarantee, many low-income individuals facing criminal charges opt to be represented by a public defender. Public defenders are notoriously overworked and may not have time to meet with a client until moments before their first hearing.
This is just one of the reasons why it is a good idea to seek out the services of a reputable criminal defense attorney who is part of a private practice. Because private attorneys control their workload, they can give your case the dedication and attention it deserves.
When you sit down with a private attorney for the first time in a case evaluation setting, you’ll be able to ask questions, learn about the lawyer’s approach to representation, and generally become more prepared to make informed decisions about your criminal defense case so that you can move forward with the support you’ll need and the confidence to keep going.
Preparing For A Criminal Defense Legal Consultation
The best thing you can do to prepare for a criminal defense legal consultation is to gather your thoughts and any relevant information that will help an attorney provide you with personalized guidance.
Gathering your thoughts is an effort that consists of two essential subtasks. First, you’ll want to write down any questions you have. Your questions may concern the specific crime you’ve been accused of committing, the potential penalties you might face, any defenses you may be able to raise, your attorney’s approach to representation, fees, or anything else that is weighing on your mind. By writing your questions down, you’ll be able to reference them quickly, and you won’t risk forgetting an issue that you want to clarify. You can also ask your loved ones if they have any questions that they’d like the answers to.
Second, you’ll want to write down any concerns, details about your situation, or other information that you want to make sure to bring up with your attorney and that you don’t want to forget. Again, by writing this information down, you’ll be better positioned to receive the personalized guidance and insight needed to make informed decisions about your defense strategy.
After all of your questions and relevant thoughts are written down, you’ll want to gather any evidence or verifiable information that may help your attorney to better understand the ins and outs of your situation. For example, if you face charges related to an injurious car crash, you might want to bring a copy of the police report that was drafted at the scene.
If you’re being falsely accused of domestic violence, you might want to bring along copies of texts that your ex sent you in which they threaten to accuse you of mistreatment if you don’t do what they want. Any specific and verifiable information you can provide during a consultation will help clarify your attorney’s approach moving forward.
Read more in our blog: Preparing For Your Day in Court
Contact A Client-Focused Michigan Criminal Defense Lawyer Today For More Information
If you have not yet scheduled a free case evaluation with the skilled legal team at George Law, you can do so by calling (248) 247-7459 or by submitting a contact form on our firm’s website. Our site also features a chat feature that is enabled 24/7 that you can use to get started.
Whichever way you choose to reach out, know that you do not need to navigate this challenging time alone. Our compassionate and knowledgeable lawyers can advocate aggressively for your rights while doing our utmost to protect your interests. We look forward to speaking with you.