A criminal defense attorney acts as an advocate of an accused person. The primary responsibility of the criminal defense attorney is to defend and safeguard the interest of clients charged with criminal cases. The attorney helps mitigate the risk against the client in a criminal case and ensures justice is served. Top criminal defense attorneys like Stroleny Law, PA are expected to build up a strong and convincing defense argument in favour of their client, without any prejudice. They are expected to develop a good relationship with the clients, and make them feel heard throughout the case.
Here are some of the roles a criminal defense attorney plays during a criminal case.
The Roles And Responsibilities Of A Criminal Defense Attorney
i) Assignment of the case
Assignment of the case is the first phase of a criminal proceeding. This is where the case will be handed over to the defense attorney.
Every defendant is entitled to a lawyer. In a situation whereby the defendant can’t afford one, the court will assign one to them.
ii) Assessing the case
Once a criminal defense attorney takes up a case, the first thing they usually do is to assess both the merits and demerits of their client’s case. The assessment also helps to keep up to date with the situation on ground. This stage is where the actual work begins for most attorneys.
iii) Interview
Interviewing the clients is usually the next step to take after assessment of the case is over. The attorney must ensure that the interview is as thorough and detailed as possible. This is because a detailed interview gives the lawyer a good understanding of the case, thereby equipping them with all the facts needed to fight for their clients and avoid any surprises.
iv) Investigation
After an interview with a client, the attorney must carry out an independent investigation regarding the case. This helps the lawyer understand and checkmate the consistency of the client’s testimonies during the interview. The lawyer might need to ask the police about the procedures followed to frame the charges or hire a private investigator to do a deep check on the stories surrounding the case.
During the investigation period, the lawyer might have to speak with the witnesses at the crime scene and thoroughly interview them before using them in court. Your defense attorney is also expected to review the prosecution’s case before submitting it to the jury.
v) Evidence analysis
One of the key responsibilities of a criminal defense attorney is to examine all evidence available independently. This helps the attorney understand all assumptions and legal theories that would drive the case. The attorney will have access to certain evidence about the case and might need to have them tested in a third-party laboratory.
vi) Jury selection
An attorney plays a vital role in the jury selection process. If the attorney is not comfortable with a certain juror, the defense lawyer has the right to object to the inclusion of that juror. An attorney can object to a juror if the attorney feels the juror will be biased or is not qualified.
vii) Defending the accused during trial
The main goal of an attorney is to build a strong and robust defense during the trial. The attorney represents the defendant and is expected to look out for the defendant’s best interest and fight for the client’s acquittal. If that seems impossible, the criminal defense attorney is obligated to try and reduce the intensity of the client’s punishment in every possible way that is legal. The attorney might have to cross-examine the witnesses, provide all shreds of evidence in favor of the client, and interrogate the witnesses standing for the state. The main objective is to convince the jury that the defendant is innocent.
Tips For Choosing A Criminal Defense Lawyer
Looking at some of the responsibilities of a criminal defense lawyer stated above, it is clear that they play a crucial role in deciding the future of the defendant. This is why you must only allow an experienced professional to handle your criminal case. A professional criminal defense attorney knows the criminal justice system well and has the needed experience. All these might work in your favor in the long run.
When choosing a criminal defense attorney, there are few things to be mindful of.
Importantly, you must ensure that your lawyer has the experience to handle your case and is knowledgeable about your rights and the laws or appeals which can safeguard your interest. The Criminal Appeals Lawyer Toronto must be attentive, be a good judge of character, be attentive, communicate well, and must be capable of handling stressful situations.
