Roles of Criminal Defense Attorney
Criminal defense attorneys provide a defense for individuals accused of a committing a crime. These attorneys perform various duties in their efforts to promote their clients' interests before a court of law.
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Client Interaction
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One of the initial tasks a criminal defense attorney performs is meeting with the client to discuss the case. The attorney often has to visit a jail because the client may be there awaiting trial.
Case Management
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Case management is a vital part of a criminal lawyer's workday and involves organizing case documents, indexing exhibits and reviewing correspondence.
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Pleadings Preparation
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The lawyer will prepare numerous pleadings in a criminal matter, including answers to complaints, discovery and pretrial briefs. The attorney has to provide copies of these documents to the court and to the prosecutor.
Settlement Negotiations
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In most criminal trials, the defense attorney will try to negotiate a deal for the client to get a lighter sentence. The attorney may have to consider a plea-bargain offer from the prosecutor, which is an incentive for the defendant to plead guilty to a lesser charge.
Trial Preparation
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If the parties are unable to negotiate a settlement, the defense attorney will begin to prepare for trial. The lawyer and his staff will retain experts, prepare an opening statement and assist in jury selection.
Trial Duties
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During the trial of a case, the defense attorney will present evidence, cross-examine prosecution witnesses and provide legal defenses. If his client is found guilty, the defense attorney will decide after sentencing whether to file an appeal.
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References
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