Do I Need to Hire a Criminal Defense Attorney?
- Posted on: Dec 14 2022
If you’ve been charged with a crime in Virginia, you’re probably experiencing a bevy of emotions. Fear, anger, anxiousness, and confusion are just a few of the emotions criminal defendants experience. And to make matters worse, people charged with crimes in Virginia must attempt to navigate the criminal justice system—a system that is complicated and full of pitfalls. Learning enough about the law and criminal justice system to defend yourself while simultaneously experiencing the mental turmoil brought on by criminal charges isn’t just difficult—it’s nearly impossible. Therefore, if you’ve been charged with a crime in Virginia, you should strongly consider hiring a criminal defense attorney. In this article, we explain why.
You Can’t Learn Everything You Need to Know in Law Books
One of the things that makes self-representation in a criminal case so difficult is that a lot of the information necessary to succeed is not located in law books. Although law books define crimes, establish punishments, and mandate courtroom procedures, this only scratches the surface of the knowledge needed to beat your charges. To succeed as a criminal defendant, you also need knowledge of the local court system, prosecutors, judges, and similar information. And the only way to acquire such knowledge is through years of experience.
The Role of a Criminal Defense Attorney
No matter how intelligent you are, the criminal justice system makes it extremely difficult for you do a competent job of representing yourself. Given the uniqueness of each criminal case, only a legal specialist with vast experience in assessing the particulars of a case can provide the representation necessary to ensure that your rights as a criminal defendant are adequately protected. Specifically, when you hire a criminal defense attorney, he or she will:
- Negotiate with prosecutors to obtain reduced charges and/or lesser sentences
- Help you cope with the emotions involved with being a criminal defendant, such as reduced self-esteem, fear, anxiety, and embarrassment
- Provide you with an objective assessment of your case, including your odds of success should your case go to trial and the pros and cons of pleading guilty to your charges.
- Use his or her knowledge of important legal rules and court customs and procedures to protect your rights as a criminal defendant
- Understand the consequences of pleading guilty that a self-represented defendant might never think about
- Fully investigate your case to ensure that all relevant facts are available for your defense.
Contact a Virginia Criminal Defense Attorney
If you are facing criminal charges in the state of Virginia, you need a criminal defense attorney on your side. At Walker Jones, PC, our knowledgeable and experienced criminal defense attorneys are dedicated to defending you against your criminal charges. When you come to us for help with your case, we will aggressively defend you against your criminal charges. Please contact us as soon as possible to arrange an initial consultation with one of our experienced lawyers.
Posted in: Criminal Defense
