10 Reasons to Hire a Columbia MD Criminal Defense Attorney Immediately

It is important to know and exercise your rights as an American. One of your inalienable rights is equal and fair access to the legal system when you have been implicated in a crime. Another is the right to an attorney. Because of these rights, some people feel inclined to represent themselves in court or let “the system” handle it by assigning them a public defender, especially if the case seems to be an open-and-shut matter. Criminal cases of all sorts can quickly become complex, however, leaving you wishing you had retained the services of a quality criminal defense attorney.

The fundamental reasons to hire a quality attorney to help you deal with criminal charges in court are simple and self-evident. A quality legal defense will protect your freedom, finances, and reputation, either by beating charges completely or fighting to have sentences reduced.

If protecting your wallet and keeping you out of jail is not enough to convince you that you need a criminal defense lawyer, here are 10 specific issues to consider when you feel the urge to represent yourself in Columbia, MD, criminal court.

1. Familiarity With the Courts

While it is true that every citizen has the right to be treated equally in our courts, that certainly does not mean that every citizen is equally equipped to exercise those rights. There is a reason would-be lawyers have to go to school for many years before pursuing their license to practice law in most states. The courts can be extremely confusing for someone with no legal background. If you are facing criminal charges, it is already a stressful time in your life. It would be unwise to try to independently teach yourself the criminal defense trade with so much already weighing on you.

2. Legal Expertise and Experience

A lawyer can leverage their experience and their intimate knowledge of the Columbia, MD, court system to achieve the best result for your case. When you pay your lawyer for the time that they spend preparing your case and arguing it in front of a judge, you are also paying for the decades of education and courtroom experience that come with qualified legal help.

3. Paperwork and Deadlines

The majority of any legal process consists of filling out paperwork, knowing how to draft certain legal documents, and filing all of those things correctly and on time. Mastering all these tedious, convoluted requirements and timelines can become a full-time job in and of itself. A qualified criminal defense attorney already understands these processes intimately and will stay on top of them for you.

4. Protection From the Prosecution

Prosecutors will work hard to get a conviction, especially for violent or high-profile crimes. If you represent yourself, prosecutors will do their best to intimidate you into incriminating yourself. As they are legal experts, they will have a far better understanding of the law. You need to protect yourself by partnering with your own expert criminal defense attorney, who can be a buffer between you and the prosecution.

5. Focused on Your Success

Hiring your own quality criminal defense attorney offers immense benefits versus representing yourself or allowing the state to assign you a public defender. While public defenders are noble people doing important work, they are also extremely overworked. In busy districts like Columbia, MD, public defenders often have massive caseloads that barely allow them the time to read their clients’ charges before going into court to attempt to defend them. In contrast, hiring a criminal defense attorney gives you someone who can work tirelessly for you and give your case the individual attention and focus it requires.

6. Expedite the Process

You want to put this trying and embarrassing period of your life behind you as soon as possible, and a qualified criminal defense attorney can also help with that. Going into court without truly understanding the process will often prolong routine matters that could be handled swiftly by a qualified attorney.

7. Net Savings

When a defendant in a criminal case starts weighing the pros and cons of hiring a criminal defense attorney, it is a common misconception that financial savings is one of the main reasons to go without a lawyer. In reality, failing to hire a good lawyer can be one of the most expensive decisions you ever make. While it is true that quality legal help can be a significant investment, this investment pays for itself by leading to better outcomes in court. You may save several thousand dollars up front by refusing to hire an expert attorney. However, you may be sentenced to 10 years in prison, whereas a lawyer might have gotten you off with probation.

8. Name Recognition

In the legal system, name recognition matters. If you go to court representing yourself, prosecutors and state witnesses will unfortunately see you as an easy target. However, it is a completely different story when you go to court alongside someone who has already worked with the judge and prosecutors on your case. When court officials already have a working relationship with your attorney, they will be more amenable to working out a better arrangement than if you represented yourself.

9. Communications Expertise

Retaining the services of a quality legal firm also helps with the logistics of your case, which can get quite convoluted. Even when court is not in session, there is constant communication between lawyers, court officials, witnesses, and other involved parties. Much of this legal communication is highly formalized as well. Your Columbia, MD, criminal defense attorney can manage all of these important communications so that you are not bogged down in paperwork and legal terminology.

10. Someone on Your Side

When you are charged with a serious crime, it can feel like the entire world is turning against you. Friends and family may suddenly become cold and distant. Where there once was love and warmth in your life, you may now see it replaced by anxiety, confusion, and uncertainty. No matter how your image changes in the eyes of other people in the wake of serious criminal charges, your lawyer will be there for you to give you honesty, respect, and hope. They can serve as your guide in finding the best possible path forward.

FAQs

Q: What are the four most important justifications for criminal defenses?

A: Depending on the nature of the charges, there are many potential justifications that can be used in building a criminal defense strategy. The four most common cornerstones for building a legal defense strategy for a criminal case are as follows:

• Innocence: Producing evidence that conclusively proves you did not commit the crime in question is the best criminal defense, but it is not always possible.
• Constitutional violations: Violations of your own constitutional rights, such as errors in the arrest process, can also play a crucial role in getting criminal charges dropped or reduced.
• Self-defense: Many violent crimes, such as assault, are not crimes at all when viewed through the lens of self-defense. If you can prove that your “crime” was in response to immediate harm or the threat thereof, a skilled defense attorney may be able to get charges dropped or reduced.
• Insanity: This requires proving that you were too mentally unwell to account for your actions at the time the crime was committed. An insanity defense is difficult to mount and will require collaboration between your legal defense team and expert witnesses.

Q: Why should you hire a criminal defense attorney?

A: There are many good reasons to hire a qualified criminal defense attorney when you have been charged with a crime. These include access to expert legal help, long-term savings, and a guide for complex legal processes. In general, all these benefits point to the same overarching reason: hiring a qualified defense attorney leads to better outcomes for you, such as a reduced sentence or dropped charges.

Q: What do you feel is the most important reason to have a defense attorney?

A: You are the most important reason for hiring a good defense attorney. Your freedom and reputation are on the line when you are charged with a crime. Having someone on your side who can help you fight back is crucial to putting this unpleasantness behind you and moving on with your life.

Q: What are some reasons why a person might hire an attorney?

A: The main reason to hire a criminal defense attorney is the obvious one: you have been charged with a crime. However, there are other good reasons to retain legal help. If you think you might be charged with a crime, or if you have been implicated in someone else’s criminal case, it is never too early to reach out to a qualified criminal defense attorney.

The Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, PA: Your Trusted Columbia, MD, Criminal Defense Experts

If you are facing criminal charges in the Columbia, MD, area, the attorneys at the Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, PA, are ready to put their years of experience and courtroom success to work for you. Contact our offices today for a confidential, judgment-free review of your case.