Five Reasons Why You Need to Hire a West Palm Beach Criminal Defense Lawyer

You are facing DUI charges or marijuana possession charges. You think to yourself, “I can fight the system on my own. I do not need to pay a lawyer a big retainer.”

Big mistake.

People charged with serious crimes are almost always best served by retaining an experienced criminal defense lawyer. Here are five reasons why it makes sense to hire a lawyer:

  1. The Prosecution Has a Team of Lawyers Working to Convict You

When you are charged with a crime, whether it be a driving under the influence charge, drug possession, assault, battery, or even murder, you have one of the most powerful legal entities working to convict you – the state. That is right – each state, including Florida, has a team of lawyers who spend their days in the courtroom convincing juries why a defendant needs to be convicted of a crime. You need to level the playing field by having a firm working on your behalf, fighting for your rights.

Along with an attorney, many criminal defense firms have a team of investigators who help collect evidence and examine what exactly transpired to benefit you at trial, or during negotiations with a prosecutor.

  1. “Do-It-Yourself” Guides to Legal Proceedings are Woefully Inadequate

If you try to represent yourself (i.e. pro se) you are facing an uphill battle with a judge and/or a jury. You may try to read some books about criminal law, but those books usually spend a majority of the time defining crimes and going over courtroom procedures. However, the practice of law is much more complex than what is in those books. Having an experienced criminal defense attorney by your side can make a huge difference in the credibility of your defense. Even if you admit guilt, a West Palm Beach criminal defense attorney can work with the prosecutor to possibly work out a deal with a reduced punishment, depending on the facts of your case.

  1. Legitimate, Trustworthy Counsel Through a Complicated Legal Process

When you have a seasoned criminal defense attorney working on your behalf, that attorney can provide an objective perspective on your situation and what is likely to happen if your case goes to trial. This type of advice and counsel is invaluable when determining whether to accept a prosecutor’s offered plea bargain or to move forward with a trial.

Your criminal defense attorney can also help you understand the ramifications of pleading guilty, such as what could happen to your insurance premiums after a DUI conviction, having a conviction on your record, etc.

  1. Familiarity with the Legal System

Competent, experienced criminal defense lawyers spend their days in the local court houses and understand the customs and procedures that are known to attorneys, but may not be written down. For example, a seasoned criminal defense lawyer may know whether a judge is more lenient to first-time DUI offenders than a different judge.

  1. Peace of Mind

Do you really want to spend all of your time trying to put together a viable defense while learning all the legal nuances necessary to successfully present that defense? Most defendants cannot afford to take so much time away from work and family since investigating your case and putting together a defense requires interviewing witnesses, examining police reports, and so forth.

Contact a West Palm Beach Criminal Defense Lawyer Today

As you can see, there are numerous reasons why hiring a criminal defense lawyer to work on your behalf makes sense. Contact the Skier Law Firm, P.A. in West Palm Beach today. We want you to be informed and are ready to serve you. Schedule a free, no-pressure consultation to get a better sense of your legal options.

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