Criminal Law
Facing a criminal charge can be unnerving and even embarrassing, but working with a lawyer who understands your situation and has the experience to minimize the consequences is key.
What to Expect
We have defended criminal cases as large as murder to as small as a speeding violation and everything in between. We have a good working relationship with prosecutors and law enforcement alike and can either negotiate cases or have a trial where your defenses are heard and your rights protected.
The job of a criminal defense attorney isn’t always to make the charge disappear entirely (though many times that can happen!) The job of a criminal defense attorney is to protect your rights at every stage of the proceeding and you ensure that you understand the process. When your liberty is at stake, we take this job very seriously and we vigorously defend our clients’ rights to freedom. At the initial consultation we will review your charges and any paperwork, hear your story, and discuss the possible outcomes and strategies with you.
A goal without a Plan is just a wish
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
FAQs
A lawyer cannot bail a client out of jail – that’s where a bondsman comes in. After you work with a bondsman and are released, you should consider making an appointment with a criminal defense lawyer before your first court appearance.
Our Constitution allows for a lawyer to be appointed for those who truly cannot afford one. The public defenders in our community do wonderful work for their clients, but because of the sheer volume of clients, getting time to spend with them can be a challenge. This is a benefit of hiring your own lawyer if that since you are paying for their time, you are able to spend as much time as you need in preparing your case.
While you may ultimately plea guilty to a charge, we never advise people to plea guilty without the help of a lawyer. In some instances, a guilty plea can never be undone and it can haunt you for the rest of your life by preventing certain careers and such. Even if you think you’d prefer to plea guilty, we always suggest consulting with an attorney before you do so.
Many times if you have never had a conviction on your record, there are methods for deferring your charge for a period of time so that this charge doesn’t affect your future. Because this can be a challenging process, we always recommend the help of a lawyer to seek this option.
In some instances, yes. There are many guidelines on doing this and it’s best to speak with an attorney to see if you qualify for an expungement of your record.