In a criminal justice system, a defense lawyer plays a crucial role. And it's not just one role but many that a Criminal Lawyers in Delhi Supreme Court of India has to fulfill. It may include applying for bail from the Supreme court to transfer petition in Supreme court.
While
the prosecutor tries to enforce the laws and ensures the conviction
leads to penalties or sentences, the defense lawyer defends its clients
and represents the case on their behalf.
Generally, the defendants directly contact a criminal defense lawyer, or else the case is assigned to one by the court.
The
public defender's office pays for the majority of such lawyers who work
as public defenders. The cases are appointed to them by the local or
federal courts. Some criminal lawyers, on the other hand, are hired by
some private firms.
Public defenders get paid lower than private lawyers. Such lawyers also have more cases to handle.
What Happens When you Hire a Criminal Defense Lawyer?
The
first thing that a criminal defense lawyer does is to set up a meeting
with you so that they can get as much detailed information out of you as
possible.
It helps them in figuring out the case. It also helps
in finding out the strengths and weaknesses and possible defensive
strategies. During this, you may have to go through thorough
questioning. So, be as cooperative as you can.
All this
investigation helps a criminal defense lawyer in determining the
possibility of acquitting you. If you are already convicted, they may
help transfer petitions to the supreme court. This investigation may
even include questioning sessions with the police. Also, they will talk
to the witness in case the witness holds any crucial information that
may help to free you from all the charges.
Once the lawyer gathers all the required information, they will build a strong defense using it.
A
criminal defense lawyer holds the right of reviewing the case made by
the prosecution before it goes to the jury. It helps in finding out
possible loopholes that can help acquit the defendant. It also includes
finding the evidence and checking the credibility and source of it by
working with independent labs and other experts. So, if a local court
has given its judgment and declares you guilty, a defense lawyer can
provide bails special leave petition to get you a chance for another
hearing.
Role of Criminal Defense Lawyer
A criminal defense lawyer's job is to protect you and your rights. They do that by ensuring:
They are present during the interrogation process with the police.
Defending your rights in court and asking for your bail amount to be reduced.
Helping you in deciding whether to take the case to trial or to plead guilty.
Carefully examining the evidence and tests that come from forensics.
If convicted of the crimes, pleading for a reduced sentence or a fair one.
How much does it cost to hire a legal representative?
For
starters, this depends highly upon the financial status of you as a
defendant and if you can hire a private representative or not.
Usually, private criminal defense lawyers have a fixed charge, and they get paid on an hourly basis.
Such lawyers don't take the contingency fees until the outcome of the case reveals.
If you can't afford private counsel, the court may help you by providing you with a public defender paid by the government.
But for most people, payment is not an issue; the issue is to find the right defense lawyer.
Hiring the Right Criminal Defense Lawyer
When
it comes to hiring the best professional lawyer, you'd think that a
private attorney is better than a public one as you put trust in the
service you pay for. But that's not always the case.
Whether
you hire a private one or a public one, it is crucial to ensure that
the lawyer can provide you with better plea deals. Apart from that,
there are things like experience, commitment, and skills that also
count. So, make sure that you look at the portfolio of the lawyer. Also,
try to see their success rate in cases similar to yours.
If you need to know more about hiring the best defense attorney, feel free to reach out to us.
Article comments