What are the Most Important Qualities of a Criminal Defense Lawyer

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Being charged with a crime is not an experience most people are very prepared for. Our education system does not leave most citizens with a strong understanding of how criminal justice actually works, and what knowledge we do have often comes second or third hand, through anecdotes and the media. 

This is one of the reasons why it is so important to hire an experienced criminal defense lawyer like Jeff Reisman Law who can help you navigate the system and provide you with the best possible chance of clearing your name.

If you have been charged with a crime and are looking for a criminal lawyer who can get results, here are the four most important qualities to look for. 

1. Experience with Relevant Areas of Law

While it might seem obvious that a lawyer needs to understand the laws that apply to an individual case, a good lawyer draws on thousands of hours spent working in particular legal areas both in and out of court to craft an airtight defense. 

By exploiting loopholes or proving that evidence against their client was gathered illegally, they can turn their knowledge of the law to their client's advantage. 

2. Negotiating Skills

Popular culture has taught us to believe that legal processes play out primarily in public courtrooms. But the truth is that a lot of the most important legal work is done behind the scenes, in negotiations between a defendant's team and the prosecution. 

For this reason, you'll want to ensure that your lawyer is able to work effectively with a variety of different players to secure the best possible outcome, and perhaps even help you avoid going to trial altogether.  

3. Tenacity

When you've been charged with a crime, your entire future is on the line. A criminal conviction can haunt you for years to come, making it harder to travel, find work, or volunteer in your community. 

Your lawyer should care just as much about proving your innocence as you do - tenacity, determination, and a willingness to fight are essential qualities in any criminal defense lawyer. 

4. Empathy

Facing criminal charges can impact every aspect of your life, and in many cases a defense lawyer isn't just the person helping you enter a plea or negotiate with the law - they're also the one person you can trust to be on your side through the process. 

Finding a lawyer who can empathize with your situation, honor your confidence, and respect the emotional difficulty of the situation will make the experience less alienating and less fraught. 

When considering different criminal defense lawyers, there are a lot of things you need to take into consideration, and it can be hard to know what to prioritize. The key thing to remember is that a lawyer shouldn't just be knowledgeable, but should also be deeply invested in the success of your case, and in your own wellbeing. 

Finding an attorney who has the negotiating skills, legal background, determination, respect, and ability to empathize will help ensure that you have the support and counsel you need to stay the course while your case makes its way to trial.