Criminal lawyer.

I Find Out What Happened
When you contact me after you’ve been arrested, I’ll invite you to come to my office or to have a video call to discuss what’s happened up until now, and how I can help defend you.

I as per Criminal lawyer explain The Process And Possible Resolutions
We’ll then discuss your situation, what you’re being charged with, and how I think I can help you. I’ll go through the likely the path the case may take, and what our next steps will be. I’ll also talk to the prosecutor (also called the district attorney, or DA) to get their perspective and thoughts.

My aim will be to resolve the case in a way that causes you as little distress and time as possible. When considering my advice and recommendations for what outcome to aim for (and which strategy to take), I’ll always pay attention to your needs and expectations. It’s your life, after all – and you need to be involved.

I don’t keep you in the dark about anything: I want you to have a complete understanding of everything that will go on regarding your case. And I want you to fully understand the potential results of any plan of action we take.

Scott outside courthouse with client
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You Hire Me
If you’re confident in my ability to help you, you’ll then “retain” me. “Retaining” essentially means paying a fee to secure my services in representing you. It’s a flat fee, and the precise amount depends on the nature of the case. I’ll be able to tell you the fee during our first meeting.

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I Prepare Our Case
My actions here will depend on many different factors – such as the seriousness of the charge, the strength of their case, your prior record, and if there’s any information we can provide them with about your general character.

Based on those factors, we might, for example, aim for a plea offer (where you agree to plead guilty to a lesser, possibly non-criminal charge and thus avoid further litigation), or we might decide to go to trial (if, say, I think you have a good chance of being found not guilty).

Regardless of the path we take (and there are many of them), I’ll keep you fully informed of how the process works and all the potential outcomes we could end up with.

I understand what you’re going through, and the fear you must be feeling right now. Rest assured that I’m always just a phone call away from any answers or advice you may need.I Make Sure They Stop Talking to the Police!
When someone has been arrested, the police usually try to get a statement out of them as quickly as possible.

They pressure them, tell them it’s for the best, and so on.

It never is – at least, it’s not for the person who’s been arrested.

So once you’ve hired me, the first thing I’ll do is contact the precinct where your friend or relative is being held while awaiting arraignment (the arraignment is the initial court case to discuss the conditions of bail), and I’ll put a stop to any type of questioning or interrogation.

There, I’ll speak to an arresting detective or desk sergeant to let them know that my client is represented by counsel and that no further questions should be asked.

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I’ll Gather Additional Information
Next I’ll find out the charges from the detective, and I’ll also try to speak to my new client to explain that their family/friend hired me and inform them of the procedure.

For example, when they’re likely to go to court for the arraignment and what’s going to happen next.

Then it’s back on the phone with you to chat through everything I know and tell you what the next steps will be.

Scott talking to clients in front of courthouse
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I Attend the Arraignment (the Initial Court Case) with Them
A number of topics are discussed during the arraignment, but the main purpose is to decide the custody status of my client. A determination will be made as to whether the client will be released on their own recognizance or if the judge will set bail to insure they return to court.

When I make my argument to the judge to ask for my client to be released or for low bail to be set,

I will discuss the fact that he has strong family/business ties and are therefore unlikely to willfully ignore the court’s order that he appear on each court date.

A Criminal lawyer might point out that he hasn’t been arrested before, or that the case is a weak one, or that the financial or physical harm wasn’t as great as the prosecutors are making out. Anything that supports our position, I’ll use it.

The judge will decide whether to release the client to you his own recognizance, hold him with no bail, or set a cash bail and a bond alternative. If the judge sets bail, I’ll walk you through the procedure of getting it paid, either through the court or through a bail bondsman.