Guide to Finding Pennsylvania Criminal Lawyer

When you are charged with a crime, you need someone on your side that can represent your interests at trial. Pennsylvania criminal lawyers participate in the criminal justice system in several roles, and if you need a Pennsylvania criminal lawyer, you may be overwhelmed by the amount of information available. This guide will help you break down the different kinds of PA criminal lawyers and help you to understand your PA criminal lawyer options if you have been charged with a crime in the state of Pennsylvania.

Prosecution and Defense

In civil lawsuits, one person or organization sues another for monetary damages. In criminal cases, however, the sides are different: the state (or federal) government prosecutes against a defendant who is suspected of committing a crime. PA criminal lawyers can be part of the prosecution or the defense, but because prosecutors always work for the state, a PA criminal lawyer who is on the prosecution side could never represent you as a criminal defendant.

If you need a Pennsylvania criminal lawyer, you want to look at Pennsylvania criminal lawyers who specialize in criminal defense. These PA criminal lawyers represent people accused of committing crimes and can help to guide you as a defendant through the legal system.

Public defense vs. private defense

Pennsylvanian and U.S. courts consider it so important for an accused person to be represented by a lawyer in court that if you cannot afford a lawyer in the state of Pennsylvania, you will be given a Pennsylvania criminal lawyer who will represent you for free. This PA criminal lawyer is called a public defender, and is an option for people who have no way to pay a private PA criminal lawyer.

If you qualify on the basis of income and assets, you will be appointed an attorney from a pool of Pennsylvania criminal lawyers. Be aware that public PA criminal lawyers are often overworked, and have a caseload that prevents them from spending as much time with you as Pennsylvania criminal lawyers who work for private firms.

Many people opt to have private Pennsylvania criminal lawyers represent them. The fees to hire PA criminal lawyers may be significantly less than you think: some Pennsylvania criminal lawyers have flat fee structures that let you know upfront what the cost of your criminal defense for a misdemeanor will be.

Specialty Pennsylvania criminal lawyers

Not all PA criminal lawyers are equally experienced in defending clients against all criminal charges. Some Pennsylvania criminal lawyers choose to specialize in a particular type of case. If you need a Pennsylvania criminal lawyer for a DUI case, for instance, you will find many Pennsylvania criminal lawyers whose practice consists solely of DUI defense.

Other PA criminal lawyers specialize in defending accused people from charges relating to sex crimes or drug crimes, or primarily focus on theft and shoplifting cases. If you can find Pennsylvania criminal lawyers that specialize in the type of crime you have been charged with, you will benefit from your PA criminal lawyer having substantially more experience than a Pennsylvania criminal lawyer who takes on all types of criminal defense cases.

Plea Bargaining with a PA Criminal Lawyer

Most criminal cases in Pennsylvania courts never go to trial. Instead, Pennsylvania criminal lawyers on the defense and prosecution side negotiate a reduced charge and sentence in exchange for a guilty plea. In this way, you can avoid a lengthy court battle and your PA criminal lawyer can handle more cases.

Your Pennsylvania criminal lawyer is never, under any circumstances, allowed to decide your plea for you, or decide whether you should take a plea bargain, but a PA criminal lawyer is allowed to advise you based on their past experience. Whether you choose to take the advice of your Pennsylvania criminal lawyers is up to you.

When deciding whether to take a plea bargain, your Pennsylvania criminal lawyer can help you to understand what your options are and what the advantages and disadvantages of going to trial are. If you are determined to go to trial, PA criminal lawyers cannot make you take a plea bargain, even if they feel it would be advantageous for you to do so.

Legal Fees of PA Criminal Lawyers

While some cases in civil law are handled on a contingency fee basis, with fees paid only if the client wins, Pennsylvania criminal lawyers are prohibited by statute from using contingency fees in criminal cases.

PA criminal lawyers can explain their fee structure at an initial consultation. Even Pennsylvania criminal lawyers that you do not choose to represent you after a consultation must keep your personal information confidential. This means that you can explain the situation that led to criminal charges adequately without being afraid to reveal personal or senstive details.

Your Pennsylvania criminal lawyer is likely to charge a flat fee for legal services stemming from being accused of a particular crime. PA criminal lawyers will explain their fees, including whether a fee is all-inclusive through the end of a trial or if it covers only a single stage of the trial.

Typically, your PA criminal lawyer will estimate the total cost of your case, and the money will be placed in an escrow account. The lawyer's costs and fees will be deducted from the account as expenses accrue.

Your First Consultation with a Pennsylvania Criminal Lawyer

When you first consult with your PA criminal lawyer, you should take along a pen and paper. Before your visit, write down any questions you want to ask your Pennsylvania criminal lawyer. Questions about previous experience with similar cases may be helpful.

You can also ask your Pennsylvania criminal lawyer about any legal terms or concepts you have been unclear on, and it is of course a wise idea to ask your PA criminal lawyer about his or her fee structure. If you feel comfortable with the Pennsylvania criminal lawyer you have chosen, you can retain his or her services and let a qualified PA criminal lawyer defend your rights.