5 Ways To Work With Your Felony Lawyer

If you've been accused of a serious crime, it is in your best interest to work with your felony lawyer to increase your chances of creating a successful defense. Too often clients fight against their attorneys due to stress, fear, or ignorance of the legal system. To help strengthen your case, here are the five best ways to support your attorney.

1. Compromise
Your attorney will give you an honest assessment of your case and the possible and most likely outcomes. If you've picked an experienced, well-reputed attorney, you should be able to trust their judgment and understand that compromises might have to be made in your best interest. Many attorneys will suggest a plea bargain to avoid severe punishment. Some people refuse, even with overwhelming evidence stacked against them. While it's ultimately your decision whether to go to court or accept what has been offered, remember that losing a case have far more devastating consequences in many instances. Consider compromising for your own sake if you're up against a wall.

2. Honesty
Many people falsely believe that it is the job of a felony lawyer to prove innocence. In actuality, it is the prosecutor's job to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Your attorney is deflecting arguments, searching for weakness in reasoning based on the facts they have obtained. By withholding or misrepresenting information, you are jeopardizing the strength of your own case. In order for your attorney to cover all potential angles of the case, and to anticipate how the prosecution will build their arguments, you have to be honest.

3. Ignore Laymen
Your brother's neighbor may have just graduated from law school, but they aren't your attorney, and shouldn't know any details about the case anyways. As soon as you are charged with a crime, it is important to keep your mouth shut, remaining silent about details even around family and friends, until you've secured your own felony lawyer. Well-meaning relations can just complicate matters and even end up costing you more money. Let the legal pros handle their job without outside interference, and you'll save time as well as stress.

4. Cut off Contact
Following a criminal charge, cut all contact with the alleged victim immediately. Your felony lawyer will act as a liaison when necessary. Nothing you can say or do will be of any use to the case. Some people think that they can "talk it out" or persuade the accuser of having a change of heart. Communication with the alleged victim, or anyone else directly involved in the case that isn't your attorney is dangerous. Even non-related conversation can be misconstrued by the jury or judge as something more sinister. If you must say something, talk with your attorney first.

5. Cooperate
Your felony lawyer may request several things from you including remaining silent about case details, changing certain daily habits or routines, and making other adjustments that can help improve your image to jurors or the judge. It is important to listen and take to heart their advice.