What Does a Schaumburg Criminal Defense Lawyer Do?

1. What Does a Schaumburg Criminal Defense Lawyer Do? www.marderseidlerlaw.com

2. A criminal defence lawyer plays various crucial roles throughout a criminal case, primarily focusing on defending individuals who are charged with crimes. They serve as the voice of their clients.

3. Case Assignment A criminal defenselawyer in schaumburgcan either be directly contacted by the defendant or assigned the case by the court. Public defenders, who are paid by the public defender's office, often handle many criminal defense cases appointed by local, state, or federal courts. On the other hand, private firms may hire criminal defense lawyers, while some lawyers run independent legal offices. Public defenders typically receive lower salaries compared to private lawyers and tend to have higher caseloads due to referrals and payments coming from sources other than defendants. In certain situations, a private lawyer may be appointed by the court for a specific case. Case Interview Once a criminal defense lawyer has the opportunity to meet with the client, they should gather as many case details as possible. By asking specific questions, the lawyer can uncover potential defenses and assess the strengths and weaknesses of the case. This requires a thorough and careful interrogation of the defendant.

4. Case Investigation In addition to questioning the defendant about the case, the criminal defense lawyer must conduct further investigations to explore possible avenues for acquitting the defendant. This often involves scrutinizing police procedures related to the case, interviewing witnesses with relevant information, and collecting pertinent evidence. All of this information is used to construct a strong defense. If an expert witness is involved, the criminal defense lawyer may interview them regarding their potential testimony and the evidence presented. Review of Prosecution's Case A criminal defense lawyer has the right to review the prosecution's case before it is presented to the jury. This allows them to identify any weaknesses or gaps in the case against the defendant and search for evidence that could challenge the prosecutor's arguments. For example, they may hire an independent laboratory or expert to test the evidence in question.

5. Evidence Analysis Carefully analyzing the evidence against the defendant requires the criminal defense lawyer to study the facts and theories of the case. They may arrange independent testing of the evidence and examine it to identify any legal theories that could undermine the conviction of their client. Client Communication Maintaining regular contact with the client is essential for a criminal defense lawyer. They must inform the client about any case developments and ensure that all conversations remain confidential. The lawyer also communicates crucial information about the case to the client, enabling them to understand the potential consequences better.

6. Jury Selection A criminal defense lawyer assists in the jury selection process. They may seek to disqualify jurors if they exhibit bias against the defendant or if the lawyer has concerns about a particular juror. Plea Bargaining Negotiating with the prosecutor regarding potential plea bargains is another responsibility of a criminal defense lawyer. They aim to secure a favorable deal for the defendant, such as reduced charges or punishment.

7. Trial Participation During the trial, a criminal defense lawyer vigorously advocates for their client. They examine witnesses, cross-examine the prosecution's witnesses, and strive to persuade the jury that the prosecution has not met its burden of proof. Sentencing If the criminal defendant is sentenced due to accepting a plea bargain or being convicted by the judge or jury, the criminal defense lawyer can represent the defendant during the sentencing phase. They may discuss factors that could persuade the judge or jury to limit the defendant's sentence and explore alternatives to incarceration.