Planning a Winning Strategy for a Criminal Defense Lawyer

Because we live in a society that says that all are innocent until proven guilty, a lot is riding on the proof. The defendant's past, participation in any crime and their actual innocence in this particular case can oftentimes be seen as irrelevant - short of DNA evidence - if the attorney cannot prove it. Therefore, the client's future is in the hands of their criminal defense lawyer and the critical strategy that he or she develops based on a few key factors that impact every case.

The first objective in establishing any criminal defense lawyer's strategy is to determine the defendant's story or plea. This typically falls into three categories: confession, denial, admittance and explanation. The confession is when a client pleads guilty and confessed to the events of the crime they are accused. The denial is when the client either has an alibi for that day, some part of the crime or knows what actually happened which excuses their involvement. And there is also the admit and explain which is useful in cases of stolen property if the client claims that the plaintiff lent him or her their property with permission, the defendant didn't just take it.

So once this aspect of the attorney's strategy building is complete he or she can focus on their courtroom plan which is driven by either a person, place or a thing. First, the people are the judge and jury, their sympathy can help them see the client as human and redeemable or their actions comprehensible. Second, the place involves walking the judge and jury through the crime in question with the defendant's story included as the main focus whether it includes their confession, denial or admittance and explanation. Third, the thing that the attorney will try to stay consistent with is the evidence in the case from fingerprints and DNA to surveillance and paperwork documenting their client's whereabouts or at least casting doubt on their presence during the crime is also an objective.

The strength of the criminal defense lawyer will mean the difference between freedom or, at the very least, a reduced sentence, and a long prison sentence and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines for the guilty verdict. The strategies used are as unique as the attorney. But, all attorneys approach their cases and courtroom presentations with the same resources. They rely on the defendant's honesty as it pertains to their involvement in the events of the crime in question. They rely on their own investigating and gathering skills for all evidence and witnesses. And with the establishment of any good plan, it has to be open to change as the case progresses. The attorney has to be willing to alter his or her approach in order to counter the prosecution's accusations, arguments and witness testimonies. They have to be willing to incorporate new information all the time. Adaptability is critical asset for a successful criminal defense lawyer.