Criminal charges can carry very serious implications affecting everyday aspects of your life in a variety of negative ways. If you have been charged for crimes in Virginia, you will need to find a dedicated Virginia criminal defense attorney that can help you build a defense to both minimize the negative effects of the case on your life and find the best possible outcome for your situation.
Some important steps you can take in your own defense are firstly, contact an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Secondly, have an in-depth conversation with your criminal defense attorney. This conversation should be open and honest because you know it will be confidential. Virginia criminal defense attorneys are bound by the attorney-client privilege, which means that you can discuss all aspects of the case, including those that may involve illegal conduct or embarrassing facts, relying on the knowledge that the attorney will keep your conversations strictly between the two of you.
Thirdly, you can make an exhaustive list of the facts and circumstances that led to your arrest. This may include names, dates, places, and things of that nature. It is very important to safeguard this list and share it only with your Virginia criminal defense attorney. If you show it to others you may be creating potential witnesses against you.
In summary, make sure that you have an exhaustive conversation with your attorney and try to remember all the facts of the case which may be pertinent as soon as possible. These will include small details which you may assume are trivial, but in context of your defense they may be very important.
Criminal law is an ever-changing and ever-evolving field of law in Virginia.
A person’s case relies largely on a criminal defense attorney’s experience within the criminal justice system rather than simply their education and schooling. There are a lot of practical application of Virginia law including criminal procedures, evidence, and local court practices, which can only be mastered through experience in the courtroom. That is not to say that the attorney with more experience is necessarily the best attorney for you.
However, when you speak to an attorney who practices in criminal defense, regardless of the number of years they have been practicing, you can rely on them being experienced in the criminal defense arena. That is, they primarily practice law in that area rather than another areas such as employment law, trusts and estates, or family law. While attorneys who practice in those areas certainly have their place, if you are charged with a criminal offense you want to take advantage of the services of a criminal attorney who spends the majority of their time practicing criminal law.
While many Virginia criminal law attorneys operate as solo practitioners, there are certain benefits to hiring an attorney who is part of a law firm. One of the main benefits is resources. An attorney who is part of a law firm will likely have staff who are also experienced in criminal law, including paralegals, law clerks to handle intensive research assignments and even other attorneys. They will be able to use the developed body of case law research as well as their experience within the local jurisdiction to your benefit.
In addition, the saying that “two heads are better than one” certainly applies to a law firm. There are a lot of different opinions and viewpoints in a firm, which can all be used in balance to come out with the best possible defense for your case.
Northern Virginia Criminal Defense Group