Disadvantages of Putting Your Life and Career in the Hands of a Cheap Public Defender
If you have been charged with a criminal offense, hire an attorney with experience.
A prominent attorney warned of the danger of the free or cheap attorney. Most people don’t remember much about when you were arrested—it all happened so quickly. As you were told your Miranda Rights, however, you may have heard the part about having a lawyer appointed to you if you can’t afford to hire one yourself. The lawyer that the officer refers to is called a public defender.
Public defenders are licensed attorneys who went to law school and passed their Bar exams. They work for and are paid by the government, and many are quite capable of providing good representation. However, not all are good and being represented by a public defender instead of a criminal defense attorney is often risky.
The Disadvantages of being represented by a Public Defender
Do you feel confident heading into the Courthouse with a public defender? Do you feel like this attorney has the resources to provide you with what you need to win your case? Going with a public defender may seem like the cheap, affordable thing to do, but taking that route can lead you down a treacherous path. Here are three examples explaining why:
- • Public defenders are busy. Public defenders typically have large caseloads, which means they are spending lots of time working with other clients and may not have the means to put the required effort into your case. You may also not have access to the defender except when you’re actually in court because of how busy he or she is.
Most public defenders show up with a big stack of files for PD clients they have never met before. They yell the names in the hallway, then ask what are you charged with. With a private lawyer, you are their only client in that court and you get individual attention. The public defender could have 20 cases or more that day.
- • Public defenders often lack resources. Many public defenders lack research access, which puts their clients at a disadvantage—possibly causing them to lose their cases. Public defenders may not have the means to hire private investigators or to work with experts—essentially providing the help needed to win their case, like a private defense attorney typically does.
- • Public defenders often lack experience. Would you want to be your public defender’s first client? Without knowing much about your attorney, you risk becoming involved with one who lacks experience, and unfortunately, once you are assigned a public defender, you can’t choose another one.
Source for Virginia cases: http://www.easleyfirm.com/library/the-disadvantages-of-hiring-a-public-defender.cfm
Hire an experienced criminal lawyer. Don’t hire an ambulance chaser that mails you a solicitation letter advising they handle cases cheap, then sends a young attorney with no court experience to handle the case. Remember, good things ain’t cheap, and cheap things ain’t good. [Zig Ziglar] .
Would you want your surgery handled by a doctor who said you were his first patient?
Let Our Experience Help You With Your Case
The Vercammen Law Firm has the experience and talent you want to represent you in your criminal case. Don’t settle for less than what you deserve. We call all our clients every week, often at nights or weekends. You are never going to speak with the public defender lawyer on a weekend if there is an emergency.
Contact Kenneth Vercammen’s law office now to learn more.
Another prominent attorney posted :
- • You Get, What You Get – Unlike a private criminal defense attorney, when the court appoints you with a public defender, you’re stuck with them. While sometimes this isn’t a problem, as most public defenders are highly competent lawyers, it can become one if you don’t feel like you can trust the person that is supposed to be “protecting” you.
- • Overworked, Underpaid – Public defenders are government employees, meaning they make less than private criminal defense attorneys. Many people don’t have the money to hire a private attorney, so public defenders have massive caseloads. This could mean potential mistakes and little time to prepare for your case.
The Pros of Hiring A Private Attorney
Since the defendant is paying for the legal fees when they hire a private criminal defense attorney, the advantages are many, these include:
- • One-on-one-time – Private attorneys choose what cases they want to work, this means that they have a much smaller caseload then public defenders. With less cases to work on, they are able to spend a greater amount of time discussing all the nuances of your case. This extra time may be just what you need to either win your case, reduce your charges, or get the case dropped completely.
- • Resources – Your private attorney may be able to hire expert witness that can help with the defense. Additionally, private labs may be hired out to test evidence against the defense, as well as, private investigators.
- • Easy To Contact – Criminal defense attorneys are easier to get ahold of the public defenders. Your attorney can easily be reached at his or her office or by any other means they have given you permission to contact them by.
- • Reputation – As a private attorney, criminal defense lawyers have a reputation to uphold if they want to be recommended to work on cases. This means that they will fight harder to ensure that the results from your trial are positive and that you are taken care of before, during, and after the court proceedings.
- • If you or someone you know has been charged with a crime, you need to act fast to find the right defense for you. Choose an attorney that will take the time to make sure that all possible avenues have been examined thoroughly in order to win your case.
Source for Missouri cases https://www.missourilegal.com/blog/2018/06/22/public-defender-vs-private-criminal-defense-attorney-the-pros-cons/
