Well, you’ve gone and done something that put you on the wrong side of the law and now you need a criminal defense attorney. An Austin criminal defense attorney will be appointed for you. It’s your constitutional right.

Now that you know you will have a Houston criminal defense attorney to handle your scrape with the law, you might want to give some thought to how to best use his or her services. Just because you have one appointed doesn’t mean you don’t still have to provide some instruction as to how you want your case to go.

You’d want a Dallas criminal defense attorney to know criminal law inside out and be in the trenches daily. The more experience they have, the better it is for you in the long run. Daily dealing in criminal courts mean they know the ropes and that will only serve you better.

It’s ideal if your criminal defense lawyer knows the prosecutors and Judges in Dallas, Austin or Houston. This means the lawyer is able to discuss with you in advance what kind of a plea bargain you might encounter. Other insider tips like whether the Judge maxs out sentences come in handy too.

Knowing what to expect down the road will give you enough information to decide whether to settle, plead out early or dig in your heels and hold on for a jury trial. The attorney is the one who sends investigators to the scene of the crime and handles all the reports that are returned.

You might think that’s a waste of time, but often there are things discovered by an independent third party that were missed by the police or they may be hiding things. It’s happened and your lawyer is responsible for leaving no stone unturned.

Witness prep is another duty your Dallas criminal defense lawyer tackles. S/he coaches favorable witnesses on how to handle being questioned in court. This isn’t the easiest thing to do, but you do want your witnesses to come across as credible and reliable.

The Houston criminal defense lawyer will also prepare you for court. Make your story direct and clear. Don’t wander all over trying to explain things, and just stick to what the attorney tells you will work. This is part of the overall bird’s eye viewpoint of the case the lawyer wants the jury to see.

Depending on the facts of the case and how things shape up, your Austin criminal defense lawyer will draft motions for the Judge to rule on. These could include a motion to dismiss your case for lack of evidence or to reduce your charges etc. They will also write opening and closing remarks to the jury.

The only way your Dallas criminal defense lawyer is going to be able to assist you is if your work with him or her. You might not like the mess you’re in, but realize it’s your mess and the criminal defense attorney is trying to make the best of it for you.