If you are facing criminal charges, you may be on the fence about whether to hire a criminal defense attorney. This is normal, and you may even be thinking about representing yourself in court. Unfortunately, individuals who represent themselves usually do not achieve the outcome they are hoping for. With an attorney on your side, you may be able to achieve a reasonable outcome or even get your case completely dismissed. If you are facing criminal charges, here are some reasons to hire a Raleigh criminal defense attorney.

1. Attorneys Understand the Legal System

Hiring an experienced criminal defense attorney is imperative if you are facing criminal charges. criminal defense lawyers have an in-depth understanding of how the legal system operates. Simply put, the legal system can be confusing, even for individuals who work in it regularly, but the right attorney understands the inner workings of the court system. They can also help guide you through the legal process based on your particular case. Long story short, you need a criminal defense attorney who can demystify and simplify the legal process for you.

2. criminal Defense Attorneys Often Have Relationships With Prosecutors

After years of practice, attorneys develop intimate relationships with each other. criminal defense attorneys develop relationships with prosecutors, and even though it may seem counterintuitive that a prosecutor would be willing to strike a deal with a criminal defense attorney, it does happen. The outcome of your case will more than likely be better if everyone knows each other and has a good relationship.

Such a relationship may help your attorney better negotiate the terms of a plea bargain or lower the price of a bond. Some criminal defense attorneys have relationships with multiple prosecutors, which can prove vital when the time to try your case arrives.

3. criminal lawyers Have Specialized Knowledge

Contrary to what many people believe, all lawyers are not the same. Although all lawyers graduate from law school and pass the state bar to practice in a particular jurisdiction, lawyers have a variety of specialties to choose from. A criminal defense attorney only handles criminal cases, so you can be sure they have handled cases similar to yours before. They may even have experience handling cases identical to yours.

4. Hiring an Attorney Can Save You Money

You may think hiring a criminal defense lawyer is expensive, but in reality, doing so can save you money in the future. Hiring an experienced attorney is almost always worth it, especially considering they can help you receive the optimal sentencing for your case, which can help you keep your professional license, job, or freedom. Consider how much money you would lose if you lost your job or freedom. How much income would you lose if you lost your professional license? Even if you are not fired or imprisoned, you will still lose money by missing work for various court dates.

5. An Attorney Can Safeguard Your Future

Your future is of the utmost importance, and the right criminal defense attorney will fight for it. An experienced criminal lawyer may be able to:

• Get your case dismissed because of police errors or illegally obtained evidence.
• Lessen any penalties you may be facing.
• Bargain to get your charges reduced.

A criminal attorney may be able to get your charge reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor, and if they are successful, they may be able to keep a charge off your record altogether. You don’t want to jeopardize your future, and with the right criminal defense lawyer on your side, you may be able to avoid the negative impact a criminal conviction can have on your personal and professional life.

6. A criminal Defense Lawyer Can Advise You About Possible Outcomes

Some criminal defense lawyers attempt to present an unrealistic picture of what will happen once you go to court. You don’t want this type of lawyer – you ideally want someone who will advise you of any potential penalties and remain realistic throughout your trial. Imagine if your lawyer told you nothing would happen, then all of a sudden you were convicted and facing years in jail. You don’t want this to happen to you and you don’t want to believe the legal system is on your side and everything will just work itself out.

A real criminal defense attorney will tell you what will really happen if you are convicted. They can also help you understand what steps to take to ensure the best possible outcome. Your lawyer should also feel comfortable advising you when the time to take a plea deal arrives.

7. Attorneys Understand Law Enforcement Limitations

Contrary to popular belief, there are limits law enforcement officers must adhere to when obtaining evidence in a criminal case. Experienced criminal lawyers spend years learning about these limits, and they even have knowledge of various loopholes and blind spots that the average person does not know about. They know what police are allowed to do during investigations and whether officers have infringed on the rights of an accused person. If an officer is guilty of obtaining evidence illegally, an attorney may be able to get this evidence thrown out, which can result in a dismissal.

8. criminal Defense Attorneys Can Reference Previous Cases

criminal lawyers have a wide range of knowledge regarding various statutes and laws. They can use this knowledge to readily reference previous cases that may be similar to their client’s case. Referencing previous cases may improve a person’s chance of winning their case.

Hiring a criminal Defense Lawyer is Worth It

Hiring the right attorney can improve your chances of a positive outcome. Although the cost of an attorney is often a barrier, spending the money to hire an experienced lawyer is usually worth it. By working with the right Raleigh criminal defense lawyer, you may be able to achieve the outcome you are hoping for.