Acquiring The Right Type Of Legal Representation For A Misdemeanor Offense

Like with any other criminal charges, if you're facing prosecution for a misdemeanor offense you will need legal representation. While a defendant is certainly fortunate not to be facing a felony charge, being prosecuted for a misdemeanor offense is nothing to take lightly. A misdemeanor conviction puts you "in the system" and getting out of it is something many people struggle with. Probation violations do occur and what started as a misdemeanor can lead to more trouble down the road with more jail time possible months or even years after your probation sentence starts.

When you hire an attorney who doesn't treat your case as trivial, and doesn't compare you to their clients facing more serious charges like sex offenses or homicide, you are off to a good start. A criminal defense attorney is obliged to do their very best for every client that retains them, regardless of the seriousness of the charges they're facing. You might not be looking at a lengthy prison sentence for the crime you're accused of, but it can also have a serious impact on your life, and that is not to be discounted. Ideally you want the charges dropped, and if the law firm you retain is ambitious, this is more than just possible.

When you're looking for someone to represent you, don't automatically assume that the first listing in Google is the best choice. What that really means is that they are the best at marketing their law firm website, or in most cases willing to pay the most for internet marketing services. That does not equate to being the most interested in helping you or being the most qualified. In some cases it does, but most of the time you'd be much better off doing some research and trying to find the lawyer who is most likely to deliver a good outcome for you.

You could be in this situation for a whole host of reasons. The most common reasons are undoubtedly drug possession and a first offense for driving under the influence, or DUI as it's commonly called. You could also face misdemeanor charges for firing a weapon within city limits. Most people don't know that. In some bureaucratic cities, this could include shooting cans with a bb gun in a controlled environment. Other common misdemeanor crimes include petty theft, public intoxication and vandalism. Some misdemeanor crimes can turn into felonies if they are repeat offenses, like driving drunk as an example.

Let this point be crucial. In 99% of cases, and this is especially true with misdemeanor crimes, you want to hire a criminal defense attorney who is local. Someone whose office is in the same city or town that you are going to court in. If you live 20 miles outside of Memphis, and it's a different county in Tennessee or Arkansas on top of it, showing up to court with the big city lawyer ends up being a disadvantage. You want someone who has a working relationship with the judges and the prosecuting attorneys of the courtroom you will be appearing in. If the prosecution knows that your attorney does not give in easily and is only interested in the best possible outcome for you, this can often pay dividends.