Hire Your Own Criminal Defense Attorney Instead Of Going With A Public Defender

Getting accused of a crime can be a stressful experience. If you don't have a ton of money for an attorney, the court system will often provide a public defender to assist you. While this can certainly save you some money, it could also have consequences for your case. While public defenders are of course honorable attorneys, they often can not focus as much on any one client as a private criminal defense lawyer can. Here are 3 reasons why you might want to spring for your own private defense attorney, even if finances are tight.

More Face Time

When you hire your own criminal defense attorney, you can likely get as much face time as you want with your attorney. Contrast this with a public defender, who might not even be able to read about your case until just before you are due in court for your initial hearing. If you are accused of a crime, you want to make sure that your attorney fully understands your side of the story.

Private Criminal Defense Attorneys Greatly Value Their Win/Loss Record

No attorney likes to lose, and that's true for public defenders as well. But public defenders also know that they will be given plenty of cases that are not winnable because of the circumstances. They often have to take cases even if they know the outcome is not likely to be good for the defendant. Private attorneys on the other hand base their entire reputation off of how many cases they win versus how many they lose. A private attorney may be more likely to go the extra mile for you to help ensure a victory compared with a public defender who may be getting overworked with multiple different cases at once.

A Private Attorney Might Not Be as Expensive As You Think

People often opt for the public defender because they just assume that a private attorney will be very expensive. But there are plenty of great attorneys out there that understand that not every client can afford to pay $500 an hour. Some attorneys might even be willing to work pro bono, or for free, if the circumstances are right. Before you agree to go with a public defender, at least take a look in your area for a private attorney that could help you. It doesn't hurt to at least sit down and talk with an attorney or two and see if you can come to a financial agreement that works for both parties.

If you are accused of a crime, you may have an opportunity to go with a public defender provided by the government. Public defenders are honorable men and women that will sincerely try to win your case for you, but they might not be able to dedicate as much time to your case as a private attorney would. A private criminal defense attorney may work a bit harder for you since they only get new clients based on their reputation. You might even be able to get a private criminal defense lawyer for less money than you think, but you won't know unless you try.

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