If you have been charged with a crime, it can be nerve-racking to face an uncertain future. You have the right to an attorney, and while working with a public defender won’t cost you any money, there are other reasons why you might want to consider hiring a criminal defense attorney yourself.
Here are several reasons to hire a criminal defense attorney:
- You have options when choosing a lawyer – Public defenders are court-appointed. They are capable attorneys you can trust, but that doesn’t necessarily mean your public defender is the best person for your case. By hiring a criminal defense attorney, you have more options. You can have consultations with multiple attorneys before you decide who is right for you.
- You get more of your lawyer’s attention – Public defenders are often inundated with cases and only have so much attention to offer your case if they have a high volume of other cases. Hiring your own criminal defense attorney generally means they can dedicate more time and attention to your case without being distracted by too many others.
- Your lawyer may have greater resources – Private attorneys may have greater resources than public defenders, such as private investigators, consultants, and other professionals who may help with your defense strategy. This is not to say that public defenders do not also have resources, but budget constraints may be a limitation.
- You can choose a lawyer with more experience in a specific area of law – Public defenders tend to have broad experience in criminal defense, while some criminal defense attorneys may focus on specific areas of criminal law. You can hire an attorney who will bring greater knowledge of the specific charge you face to the table.
At Johnson DuRant, LLC, our attorneys can handle your criminal defense. Contact us for a free consultation.