As citizens we live exist under a complex set of laws and regulations. With this comes the potential to find ourselves in opposition to these laws and in need of the services of a criminal defense attorney. Criminal defense lawyers are experts in the field of criminal law and their legal representation mediates and litigates on behalf of a client. The aim in engaging a criminal defense attorney is to have any charges against the client dismissed or reduced and to avoid a conviction or jail sentence. In the state of Southern California, criminal law is practiced by a diverse number of firms and solo practitioners.
Criminal Law refers to an extensive area that stretches from white collar offenses to violent crimes. An individual may be in need of a criminal defense attorney if they are facing parole violations, drug trafficking charges, or federal firearms violations. Criminal defense lawyers also handle incidents involving juveniles and represent those accused of violent crimes, including homicide.
Additionally, a criminal defense attorney can provide post-conviction counselling. In this role they are seeking to mitigate any further damage to the reputation of a client, their credit rating, employment prospects, or custody arrangements. They achieve this through advocating for the sealing of judgements and the granting of pardons.
Criminal defense lawyers can advise clients on appropriate police conduct. As a result, your criminal defense attorney will likely be the first person you contact if you are taken into custody. For this reason, many criminal defense firms offer 24/7 emergency consultations.
Finding the right criminal lawyer for your needs is essential. Many firms offer initial free consultations to discuss your case and how they would best represent you. Some legal practices operate on a no win/no fee contingency basis.
When considering who to appoint as your criminal legal representative you’ll need to consider a range of aspects. Does your proposed criminal defense law firm have the necessary qualifications and certifications? In addition to being qualified, there are other important questions to ask. If yours is a complex case, do they have enough experience and the right team backing them up? Have they been rewarded through peer recognition or independent review processes? If they are to represent you in court, how extensive and successful is their trial experience? Another important aspect is that of personality. You may be spending some time with your legal representation, so being able to trust and open up to them whilst feeling they hear and understand you is crucial.
Laws are not a static set of rules, but instead are revised with the times. SoCal criminal law refers both to the evolving nature of legislations governing criminal conduct and to the array of professionals whose job it is to protect and serve your criminal justice needs.