No one prays to be in a position where they need to get a defense attorney. But if and when the need arises, it becomes imperative that you go for someone who can truly defend you. The prisons today are littered with inmates who are there because they did not get good defense lawyers; not for the actual offense they were actually accused of.

In this article, we will be looking at the qualities to look for when searching for a defense lawyer. To help us with this, we will be mirroring the qualities displayed by Allen Goldin Criminal Lawyer serving the lower mainland of British Colombia, Canada. Using a real-life example of a success defense attorney like this will help us understand the point we are making a lot better.

Qualities of an Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney

Given that your freedom, reputation, and future prospects depend heavily on the outcome of your pending criminal case, it is only rational that you do all you can to ensure you get the best criminal defense lawyer possible. How do you decide which of the many options is the right one?

Taking a cue from Allen Goldin, let’s look at some of the qualities to look out for.

Experience and Depth of Legal Knowledge

The main job of the defense team is to poke holes in the prosecution’s case, introducing enough doubt so their case cannot be said to have been proven beyond any doubt. Achieving this requires a lot of experience and depth of legal knowledge.

This is not where you need a newbie looking to cut their teeth. After all, life or more could depend on it. So, ensure that your choice has enough experience and legal knowledge to get the job done.

Extensive Analytical and Investigative Skills

Little details can make or mar the defense’s case. Without a strong analytical and investigative mind, these little, but important details can be missed, leading to a complete collapse of the case.

You should therefore ensure that your lawyer of choice shows a sound analytical mind. They should also have either an impressive investigative team or the ability to carry out in-depth investigations to unearth any and every piece of information that can help your case.

Full Commitment to the Client

One of the most important things that criminal defense lawyers have to face is criticism and some backlash for defending someone who some think does not deserve any mercy. Regardless of what an individual has been accused of, our legal system is built on the principle of “Presumption of innocence” which states that a person has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond all reasonable doubt. You can read about it here: https://www.justice.gc.ca/.

A defense attorney understands that everyone, regardless of what they’ve been accused of, has rights that must be protected. They must therefore be willing and ready to protect these rights even in the face of backlash.

Ability to Communicate Clearly

Communication is an important part of preparing a case and presenting a defense to the court. A good defense lawyer will be able to communicate clearly and effectively. If this quality is missing, you may need to begin to look for a different option.

Note that we are not referring to a fancy talker but one who communicates effectively. The key here is effective communication and not flowery showmanship. You need effective communication to present a case.

Strategic Thinking

A sound strategy is at the core of a great defense case. You therefore need a strategic thinker on your side. Good strategist knows how to properly read the case, determine its merits and demerits and determine the best course of action.

With proper strategy, a good defense lawyer will know when to be aggressive, when to appeal and when to negotiate. Having a proper strategy from the beginning is important. However, what’s even more important is knowing when it becomes important to change strategy and to do so quickly.

Ethical Standards

This should be a core trait of any defense attorney worth their salt. Abiding by these ethical standards will mean among other things that:

• The client’s privacy and confidentiality is respected
• Communication with the client is honest and plain
• No false promises are made
• Sound legal advice is given based on the facts of the case
• Facts are not twisted or falsified to achieve an end

These are just a few important ethical requirements that any good attorney is expected to abide by. You can learn more about the ethical standards that lawyers in Canada are held to here.

Understanding of the Local Legal Terrain

Aside from general knowledge of the law, there’s also the need to understand the local legal terrain. This includes knowing and understanding the local legal community – the courts, the judges, and the prosecutors.

A defense attorney cannot have a sound strategy without knowing the temperament and tendencies of the presiding judge or the style of the prosecutor. They need to have a good understanding of these factors to be able to build a strategy that will leverage these known factors for the benefit of their client.

Ability to Withstand Pressure

 Defending an accused in a criminal case can come with a lot of pressure. There’s the pressure from the client who is afraid for their future and there’s the pressure from the prosecution, the society and even in some cases the victim (if there’s one).

Ability to stay cool and composed in spite of these pressures is crucial. If the defense lawyer cannot take the pressure, then they cannot be calm enough to execute whatever strategy the team has come up with, regardless of how sound it may be.

Record of Successful Cases

Everything we have listed so far will mean nothing if the attorney has no record of winning cases. In fact, many clients will set everything above aside for a lawyer with an impressive record of winning cases.

The ability to win a case, or at least do the best possible, for a client is confirmed by the percentage of wins already under the lawyer’s belt. This is a crucial factor that will eventually determine if a choice is the right one or not.

Once a criminal defense lawyer checks all the boxes above, you can then go ahead to begin to discuss fees. This will be the point where you get to determine the option that is within your budget.

Conclusion

Considering the fact that a defense lawyer is practically the difference between a life in confinement and freedom, it is certainly not something to be taken lightly. We’ve taken some time to look at some important traits to look out for when choosing someone to represent you and plead your case in a court of law.

Using this as a guide, you can begin to look out for someone who will handle your case the best way possible for the best possible outcome. It’s your life so do not toy with it.