Criminal defense attorneys represent clients accused of many things, including traffic offenses, DUIs, drug offenses, burglaries, assaults, and murders. You've just found out that you've been charged with a crime. You need a criminal law lawyer in Cobb County and areas near Marietta, GA, but you don't know what to expect. How does it work? What do you need to do? You have the right to expect several things from the criminal lawyer

THOROUGH REVIEW

A criminal defense attorney should review your case thoroughly before providing you with any potential options or defense strategies. The lawyer should perform a legal and factual review of your case. The legal review should include:

• A review of the charges against you to find any legal challenges that can be brought against the law you are charged with violating.
• A review of the accusation against you to determine if there are deficiencies in how you were charged.
• A determination of how the prosecution obtained its evidence to see if the evidence might be thrown out.

A criminal lawyer should review the facts of the case and listen to your side of the story. A great way to prepare for your initial consultation is to write down, in as much detail as possible, everything you remember about the incident. The attorney will also review any papers you received from the police or court about your case. This could be a ticket, a notice to appear in court, or a signed bail receipt.

You may have other documents connected to your case. For example, if you have been charged with theft, you could have a receipt for the item the police claim you stole. Or if you are charged with stalking, there may have been a civil protection order entered before the case began. Finally, a criminal lawyer will review any materials provided by the prosecutor in the case, along with any information uncovered by the attorney's own investigators.

EXPLANATION OF THE LAW

Once the review is complete, a good criminal defense attorney will explain the charges you're facing and discuss with you the laws involved. You should expect the attorney to be available to answer any questions you have. The attorney should give you a clear explanation of the possible plea options and the ramifications of taking a plea deal or going to trial.

OBJECTIVE ADVICE

The good criminal defense attorney, such as Attorney Lopes should offer you objective advice to help you decide how to proceed with your case. Your attorney should tell you the truth, clearly explain to you the strengths and weaknesses of your case, and make sure you understand what punishment you are facing.

ADVOCATE

If you elect to plead guilty, you should expect your lawyer to negotiate the most favorable plea possible with the prosecutor. If a plea bargain is reached, you should expect a lawyer to explain clearly all the ramifications of accepting the agreement.

If you elect to go to trial, you have a right to expect your lawyer to advocate strongly on your behalf. You should expect your attorney to spend time preparing you and your witnesses to testify. At a sentencing hearing, where there is no agreement on the sentence to be imposed, you should expect your lawyer to advocate for the lowest possible sentence. Your lawyer can argue for probation over jail time.

If you're charged with an offense, call The Lopes Law Firm at (404) 589-9000 and request a case evaluation. Our attorneys are here to help.