According to recent statistics, both civil and criminal court cases are on the rise. If you find yourself the defendant in one of these many cases across the land, you may feel like using a public defender is your best option.
Using a public defender may save you money but a public defense has many flaws. Hiring a lawyer is your best bet if you’re facing down a lawsuit.
In this guide, we’ll look at why you should invest in your future and hire a lawyer, rather than using a public defender. Ready to learn more and start building a winning case? Then read on!
1. Public Defenders Have a Massive Caseload
Public defenders have to deal with a lot of cases at once. The court will appoint them to multiple people, and they’ll have to juggle all these cases at the same time. What this means for you is that they’re not going to be able to spend as much time putting together a great case that could keep you out of jail.
While the public defender should still work their hardest to secure your freedom, they are a human being with limited resources. They will only be able to spend so much time with you, learning more about you and your case.
This means that a public defender will never be able to match a lawyer that you hire for quality. Private lawyers have fewer cases to deal with, which means that they will spend more time on your case and your defense.
2. A Public Defender May See You as a Number
A public defender’s large caseload means that your case will only be another number to them. It’s another case that they need to deal with. This means that they may try to ensure the case gets closed faster, which is bad news for you.
As the public defender is paid the same whatever the result, they may concede a guilty verdict far more easily than another lawyer would. After all, a guilty verdict means that you’re not on their radar anymore and they can focus on their other cases.
Even if this doesn’t result in jail time, a public defender may still concede other ground. For instance, you may be forced to wear an electronic tag, which another lawyer would have been able to fight.
This is one of the key reasons that doing a simple search like “criminal defense lawyer near me” could be such a life-changing decision.
3. A Private Lawyer May Have a Better Reputation
Public defenders often have to see the same judges day in and day out. What that means is that the reputation that the lawyer has in the court and the relationship that they have with the judge will have a large impact on your case.
If the attorney has a bad reputation, that will reflect upon your case and impact the result of the case. This is important.
A private lawyer may have a much better reputation as someone who does their paperwork, doesn’t take up the court’s time unnecessarily, which means a better relationship with the judge and a better reputation in the court. Your case may go in an entirely different direction base on this factor alone.
You get no choice when it comes to your public defender’s reputation. Hiring another lawyer gives you the opportunity to do your research and find a fantastic lawyer with a terrific reputation.
4. A Lack of Experience
No lawyer can be proficient in all areas of the law. Let’s say that you’re on trial for assault, your lawyer may never have fought one of these cases before, and there’s nothing that you can do about it.
A lot of public defenders will work on the same kinds of cases over and over, usually misdemeanors. There’s no telling what level of expertise they have in the field that you need.
A law firm will have lawyers that specialize in different areas of the law and you’ll be able to choose a lawyer who has the expertise that you need, rather than having one assigned to you. You wouldn’t have a used-car salesman sell you a house. Why have a misdemeanor lawyer represent you when you’re facing felony charges.
5. No Way to Build a Working Relationship
Once again, we come back to the key problem that public defenders face: a huge caseload. One of the most important characteristics to look for in a lawyer is their personality. You need to be able to build a good working relationship with your lawyer if you are to win your case.
This isn’t possible with a public defender, as they won’t have the time to spend with you. This means that your working relationship will be substandard.
There’s also the issue that you won’t get to choose which lawyer to work with. When you hire a lawyer, you can speak to them before hiring them to gauge their personality and working style, to see whether it meshes well with yours.
Avoiding Using a Public Defender if Possible
While a public defender is a good option if you don’t have the financial means to afford a lawyer, they cannot compare to the skills that a private lawyer possesses. Their lack of experience, their constrained time, and the fact that they won’t have time to work on your case means that you should avoid using one if it’s at all possible.
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