Recently been accused or charged with a crime? If so, you need to act fast. The sooner you find the appropriate legal representation the better, giving you the best possible chance of successfully defending yourself against the charges.
One of the options that you have at your disposal is to hire the services of a criminal defence lawyer Glasgow who handles cases similar to yours on a daily basis. Any decision that you make at this stage, however, will have far reaching consequences for the rest of your life and making the right choice could literally be the difference between keeping your freedom and losing it.
Before you go ahead and hire a criminal lawyer make sure to weigh up the pros and cons of doing so to make sure that you are comfortable with the decision. Luckily, to help you do just that, we have compiled a list of some of the biggest advantages and disadvantages of doing just that.
Advantages of hiring a criminal defence lawyer
Protect you from the harshest penalties
Depending on the evidence available in your case and the skills of the lawyer you hired, you may be able to have your charges dropped completely or for the case to be dismissed in court.
This is not always possible and by reviewing the evidence in detail your lawyer will be able to tell straight away what the likely outcome of the case will be.
They will then work tirelessly to protect you from the worst case scenario, the one that the prosecutor is pushing for.
If you are innocent of the crime that you have been charged with, it is the job of a criminal defence lawyer to prove that and protect you from any punishment at all.
Extensive legal system knowledge
Knowing criminal law inside out is one thing, but the legal system itself is almost as complex and your lawyer will help to guide you through it.
They will know all the paperwork that needs to be filled, the meetings that must be taken, and the deadlines that must be met. They will also likely have experience of dealing with the judge and opposing counsel involved in your case and will use this knowledge to put together the defence that has the highest possible chance of being a success.
Protect your image
Even if you are completely innocent of what it is that you are being charged with, a lengthy legal process can have a major detrimental impact on your reputation. Your defence lawyer will do all that they can to achieve a quick resolution and allow you to go back to living your life and protect your reputation at all times along the way.
Explain complex terms
The legal world is packed with complicated language and spiel that can be extremely confusing for someone who is not on the inside. A great criminal defence lawyer will break down language and processes into layman’s terms, guiding you through the process and ensuring that the prosecution can not try to bury you in paperwork and overwhelm you with technical language.
If you are ever struggling with something to do with the case, your lawyer will only be a phone call away and will be able to both reassure you and work to alleviate your concerns.
Cons
Cost
By far the biggest negative of hiring a criminal defence lawyer Glasgow is that one with the experience and expertise that you require won’t come cheap.
In fact, many will demand a significant fee upfront, although this is far preferable to one whom hides behind hidden fees and additional unforeseen payments further down the line.
Bear in mind that your very future and freedom could be at risk if a criminal case does not go your way and the cost of hiring a lawyer will be more than worth it if they achieve the result that you are looking for.
For this reason, it is not a good idea to go cheap when choosing a lawyer either, and experience should always be put above initial fears over cost.
There are many legal aid options for those seeking legal representation and do not have the funds to hire their own lawyer. Everyone has the right to representation in the UK.
Handing over control of your case
Most people who decide to represent themselves instead of hiring a lawyer do so because they want to retain control of their own destiny. Unfortunately, doing so can often make that destiny far less appealing. Unless you have extensive experience of the criminal system yourself, representing yourself in court is a bad idea and almost always leads to a worse outcome for the defendant at the end