Anyone who has ever watched their share of TV legal dramas must have wondered how a criminal defense attorney so blithely represents the legal interests of hardened criminals.  It is this unconditional “belief” in their clients that has given so many criminal defense lawyers a bad name, but don’t be fooled.  Just because an attorney represents his or her client’s interests in court does not mean they are convinced of their clients’ innocence.  Attorneys are trained to examine, weigh, balance and analyze the law to determine whether there is a way it can be presented that will prevent their client from being convicted.  If a conviction is likely to occur, it is the criminal defense attorney’s job to either plea  bargain or look for a lesser sentence.

An arrest in any state never means that the state is absolutely convinced that the defendant is guilty; it means they have a reasonable suspicion that this is the case.  Many people who believe they are under investigation or may be charged with a specific crime will hire a criminal defense attorney to do his or her own separate investigation simultaneously.  This way the defendant will be prepared with a defense that might negate any contrary evidence and force the judge to dismiss the case.  While this approach won’t be available to everyone, it is certainly an illustration of the “innocent until proven guilty” law.

In a recent article posted on Clawson & Clawson’s web site, “What to Expect from Your Criminal Defense Attorney,” the author urges defendants to find an attorney who has distinct experience in the area of law that covers their charge.  For example, a white collar crime might require a criminal defense attorney with a financial or business background who knows how to defend these cases.  A more violent crime can be defended better by a lawyer with experience in criminal justice or who has worked in the D.A.’s office.

With criminal defense law, the attorney’s job is to determine whether the laws were followed in conjunction with the defendant’s arrest and the method by which charges were filed.  Rather than believing his or her clients’ innocence, it is more important for the attorney to have a full understanding of the laws of the local, state and federal government that would apply to their defense.  If you are looking for a criminal defense attorney, try to find one with several years of experience representing clients who have had similar charges against them.

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