Do I need to hire a lawyer if I’m innocent?
Hiring a criminal lawyer if you are innocent of the crime you are accused of may seem counterproductive, but is absolutely essential to protecting both your freedom and your reputation.
Being charged with a criminal offence is a major shock, particularly if you’re not guilty, and many people in the situation react with denial, assuming that the truth will out and this nightmare will disappear of its own accord. Unfortunately, things don’t always work this way, and you must prove your innocence through the legal system by either having the charges dropped or by being acquitted in court.
Getting your head around the situation as soon as possible and hiring a great criminal lawyer Glasgow will dramatically reduce the risk of this whole nightmare situation dragging on any longer than required.
When to hire a criminal lawyer
You should seek legal representation the moment that you are arrested or charged with a criminal offence. In fact, you should start your search for a great lawyer the moment that you suspect you may be charged at some point in the near future.
Of course, if you have not actually committed a crime, charges will often come completely out of the blue, but if someone has been threatening to accuse you of something you didn’t do, do not assume that this is an empty threat.
This is your future that we are talking about after all and its always better to be overly cautious and hire a lawyer when they might not actually be required than to find yourself in custody with no legal representation.
How can a criminal lawyer help you?
A criminal lawyer can represent you at all stages of the legal process, helping you to understand exactly what the charges against you are, and advising you on what to do next.
When looking for a criminal lawyer Glasgow to take your case, not only should you look for someone has a reputation as a fantastic criminal lawyer with a track record of success both in and out of court but also someone who specialises in the exact area of law that your case relates to.
During proceedings, your criminal lawyer will work to protect your rights and brief you before any interview or cross-examination to ensure you don’t say anything that could harm your case.
Too many people accused of a crime have the mindset that they don’t need a lawyer as they aren’t guilty and simply by telling the truth the situation will eventually go away. In a perfect world, this may be the case but if you have been falsely accused and charged it is possible that you could be falsely convicted as well.
The consequences of being convicted of a criminal offence are incredibly serious for your future, even if the actual punishment is only minor, effecting your ability to get jobs in the future and doing irreversible harm to your personal relationships.
If you think that there is even the smallest chance of being accused, get in touch with a lawyer as soon as possible, With your whole livelihood and even your freedom under threat, it simply isn’t worth taking any chances.
How to find the right lawyer to represent you
It is hopefully clear at this point why it is so important for anyone charged with a criminal offence, rightly or wrongly, to seek the services of an expert criminal lawyer.
Just hiring the services of any old lawyer, however, will do little to help your cause and finding someone who is experienced and successful in handling cases similar to your own is essential.
Online research is great for this purpose allowing you to find out exactly what it is that certain lawyers and law firms specialise in. This can only take you so far, however, and you will need to speak to the lawyer in person to decide if you are a good fit. A good lawyer will hopefully have a case involving false allegations resolved pretty quickly, but criminal proceedings can drag on and it is crucial that you are working with someone you get on well with.
Lawyers should be willing to explain the process to you in terms that can be easily understood and happy to answer your questions about the service they provide. They should also be upfront about the fees that they charge and transparent about what is and isn’t included.
Lawyers must be great communicators and are responsible for negotiating on your behalf in any settlement agreement negotiated and presenting your case for the defence both in and out of court.
If they can’t convince you in a short initial consultation that they are the right person for the job, do you really want them to be the one that potentially has to convince a jury of your innocence when your future is on the line?
