If it’s your first time facing a criminal charge, it can be a daunting ordeal.
Knowing what to say and when to say it is confusing, and the uncertainty can be hard to deal with.
One thing that should put your mind at rest is having a Las vegas criminal defense attorney to talk to. Still, meeting them for the first time can be hard in itself.
It shouldn’t be an experience that adds to your anxiety, and here is how you can prepare for your first meeting with your criminal defense lawyer.
Describe Your Background
It can’t be stressed enough how important it is to get legal representation following an incident you’re implicated in.
For instance, after a DUI arrest, get a DUI lawyer to properly grasp your situation and know your options for reducing possible penalties or jail time, especially on your second offense.
Once you have a lawyer, expect narration and questioning to help the lawyer ascertain your circumstances. Make sure to iron this out before the meetup.
Your attorney will want to get to know a bit more about you, so don’t be surprised if they ask a few unexpected questions. This is perfectly normal.
Along with the common questions about your working background and personal life, they will be asking you questions to help build a case.
Here are some questions to expect from your criminal defense lawyer to help establish your case:
- Are you guilty of the crime?
- How are you involved with the other party?
- What were you doing at the scene?
- What is your strongest alibi?
- Have you seen any witnesses?
Your lawyer will ask about anything under the sun to extract every bit of information and establish the crime case. It’s crucial to be as transparent as possible to give them the best grounds for defending you in court.
Useful Information
A good idea before the initial meeting is to document your contact information for your lawyer.
Also, bring any documents that have been given to you from the police at any point of contact. Your police report will be useful to your attorney. You can check this site out for the best McAllen car accident attorney.
Any evidence relating to your case will be useful, so be sure to bring it as well. After your initial contact, there might be some specific information that your lawyer asks you to bring to your first meeting, so don’t forget to take it with you. For more information about violent crimes, visit https://www.tromboldlaw.com/violent-crimes/ site.
Your Questions
To prepare for your meeting, it’s a good idea to think of any questions that you can concerning your case.
Anything that might put your mind at ease or something that has been worrying you is good to bring up at your first meeting. Your attorney is the person to ask.
Some of the most common questions at this stage involve the following:
- Your options
- What you can do to support your case
- What other information your attorney might need
- How much experience your attorney has in this area
- What is the potential outcome
- What are your payment options
Don’t hesitate to ask any questions or clarify legal concerns you have while talking to your criminal defense lawyer. The more information flowing, the better your case.
Don’t Write Anything Down
While conversations with your attorney are protected, what you write down is not.
DUI lawyers around Nashville always advise to avoid writing information related to the case on paper as this could be used against you.
Your criminal defense attorney may also record your conversation. If you’re not comfortable with the recording, you can always object. Your lawyer can’t force you to give up your privacy.
Witnesses
Any useful information such as witnesses that can support your case will need to be passed on to your lawyer.
You might need people who can attest to your character or even provide an alibi, so you will want your attorney to have access to such information.
Anyone that was present at the related incident that can be useful to your defense can be helpful to your lawyer.
While this might seem like a lot to remember, building a case is a serious matter, which is why you want to give as much useful information to your attorney as possible.
They are providing the expertise to help your criminal defense case, and you can be more useful to them than you think.