There are things you should know if you ever find yourself facing criminal charges. You’ll need to know how to plead your charges, whether to accept a plea agreement or not or what defenses you should raise. You’ll need to make sure you are informed of your options when it matters most.
This information can be paramount in how you make it out of the other side of these complications.
In this article, we’ll discuss the ways in which a public defender compares to a private lawyer and what factors you should consider to make the right decision.
5 Advantages of Hiring a Private Lawyer Over a Public Defender
A private lawyer is an alternative to a public defender and one that is very much worth considering. While a lawyer is inherently more costly than a public defender, there are many positive factors a private attorney can provide.
Advantage #1: Your Case is the Priority
Without a heaping load of cases to divide their time and attention (as is often the case with a public defender), a private lawyer can give your case the dedication and hours it needs. As opposed to the “get it done” attitude that is often the case with public defenders, a private lawyer’s goal is putting in the work to get your case’s most favorable outcome, because your success is their success.
Advantage #2: Fewer Distractions
Because your case is the private lawyer’s priority — there will be fewer distractions. A private defender often has multiple cases going at a time. They’ll also have limited amounts of time to meet with you to discuss your case.
A private lawyer will generally have a team of paralegals and other staff members who can help assist the case handling and protect your legal rights. They’ll have the time available to meet with you and discuss your future and your case’s pleading in court.
Advantage #3: Experience
A public defender may not have years of experience handling similar cases to yours. Many public defenders are newer to the profession and may be “getting their feet wet” while handling your case.
With a private lawyer, you can know that the lawyer has handled many cases similar to yours in the past. While every case is different, a private lawyer can give you more accurate information about outcomes in similar cases.
Advantage #4: Choice and Reliability
Some of life’s complications can be best solved by someone specialized in dealing with that particular complication. With a public defender, you don’t get a choice in the lawyer appointed to you. However, you do with a private lawyer. The amount of attention a private lawyer can provide often means they are easier to contact, more exhaustive in their efforts, and more communicative at every step of the process.
Advantage #5: Personality Matters
When you are assigned a public defender, you are not given much choice in the matter. Once you’re assigned one, you’re essentially locked in. While you can request a change, it’s a lengthy process, since the court systems regularly have such a heavy caseload.
When hiring a private lawyer, you can meet multiple lawyers and choose one with a specialty and track record that you feel comfortable with entrusting your future with. A lawyer that you trust and can open up to is one that takes the time to hear your story, understand the complexities of the matter, and is proactive in the defenses that are going to fit for your case.
Jeremy Widder Law is on Your Side
It’s no secret that life can get complicated, but navigating those tricky waters can be a lot easier with an attorney who you can trust. Don’t let legal troubles overwhelm you and make sure the attorney at your side is someone you can trust to defend what matters.
Here at Jeremy Widder Law, we dedicate our time to guiding you from start to finish and ensuring your case gets the attention it deserves. Our goal is to protect your rights and your future by fighting for the best outcome for your case.
We are committed to walking with you from start to finish and giving your unique case the attention it deserves.
We’re ready to help. Let’s talk.
