Unfortunately, as in all professions, there is not always the same quality of representation given to criminally arrested and charged clients in a legal professional's care. There could be many reasons for a client to feel that they have not been treated properly by a criminal defense lawyer or juvenile law attorney. These reasons could range from an inexperienced criminal or juvenile crime attorney who hasn't been trained how to properly educate those in their care.
Perhaps you've hired an overworked criminal or juvenile court lawyer who takes all cases and feels he or she is not being paid sufficiently for the care demanded. You may have simply hired a criminal or juvenile law attorney who doesn't possess the pride to care as to the quality of the treatment they provide. In the area of criminal defense law, more lawyers than in most any other legal specialty are referred to local bar associations as to complaints calling for disciplinary action each year.
A capable criminal defense lawyer for an adult or juvenile crime is not always one who can "get you or your child off" for the charges one is being prosecuted for. Rather, the overwhelming majority of criminal prosecutions are not resolved through a jury's verdict following a trial but as a result of hard fought negotiated plea agreements worked out between the criminal defense attorney and prosecutor after a thorough criminal investigation has been conducted. As a result, what follows are just a sampling of some tell tale clues to observe as to whether your criminal or juvenile defense lawyer is one who should earn your trust:
Does your criminal defense lawyer or juvenile lawyer respond to your calls promptly?
Does your criminal defense attorney or juvenile crime attorney just tell you what you want to hear?
Has your criminal attorney or juvenile attorney explained the risks and benefits of going to trial?
Has your criminal lawyer given you enough time sufficiently understood the position of a prosecutor including all possible plea proposals and potential penalties for the crimes charged?
Has your criminal lawyer or juvenile crime lawyer clearly explained your fee arrangement?
Has your criminal defense lawyer or juvenile court lawyer documented your family situation including whether you have dependents to support, whether you are professionally licensed and/or whether your county of residence possesses alternatives to incarceration that you may pre qualify for?
Has your criminal attorney asked whether you or a loved one has a prior mental illness, been prescribed medication or ever been referred to mental health and/or drug and alcohol treatment that can explain one's conduct and provide a legal alternative to criminal incarceration?
One must always be aware that a criminal defense attorney or juvenile court attorney gets paid significantly more in attorney fees should a criminal prosecution be brought to trial. It is therefore vitally important that one keep on top of one's criminal case to ensure that enough time has been arranged so that a meaningful dialogue can be established between the criminal attorney and client as to the risks and benefits of going to trial. While in many prosecutions going to trial is the only way to seek justice, in far too many criminal cases a criminal client faces the prospect of the added penalty of excess legal fees and far worse criminal punishment imposed after a criminal client has blindly proceeded to trial without exploring and been made aware of all legal options available.
