Your Attorney Will Work to Control the Narrative
There is a good chance that your case will receive local, regional or national news coverage. This may be especially true if you are accused of committing crimes involving a significant amount of money or that took place in multiple states or countries. If your case does receive coverage, you may be tempted to agree to interview requests or otherwise comment on the matter.
However, this may be the worst thing that you could possibly do during an ongoing legal proceeding. Anything that you say may be used against you by the government, and speaking publicly could also poison the jury pool in your case. Ideally, you will let your lawyer issue statements on your behalf if you feel the need to put media reports into context.
This is because your attorney has years of experience shaping narratives and keeping information under wraps until it needs to come out. Therefore, he or she will be able to communicate with the public without making a key mistake that could undermine your position.
Your Attorney Will Represent You During all Steps of the Legal Process
When you are first taken into custody, you will likely be taken to a federal facility for processing. After being processed, you will typically be arraigned. During the arraignment, a judge will read the charges against you and determine if bail is an option in your case. Your attorney will typically request that you be granted bail or that your bail be reduced if you cannot afford to pay for your release.
Your attorney will also work to have the charges against you reduced or dismissed entirely. He or she may argue that evidence used to charge you was obtained illegally or that it isn’t actually evidence of a crime. This may be the most important service that your legal adviser will offer during the course of your case.
The reason for this is because most federal cases do not go to trial. Therefore, your chance of getting the possible outcome in your matter is generally before a trial begins. Of course, if your case does go to trial, your attorney will do everything in his or her power to help you avoid a prison sentence or minimize the amount of time you spend there.
An Attorney Can Help With the Appeal Process
If you do decide to take your case to trial, there is a high likelihood that you will be found guilty. This is because prosecutors tend to engage in a process typically referred to as stacking charges. In other words, they will charge you with a series of smaller crimes to increase the likelihood that you are convicted of something even if you are acquitted of the most serious crime that you are accused of committing.
It’s important to note that you could still spend several years in jail or prison if you are convicted of a misdemeanor. Therefore, it’s critical to do everything in your power to reduce or dismiss any charge that is levied against you. Your attorney will act as a valuable resource in helping you appeal your case regardless of the likelihood that an appeal will be successful.
Anything That You Say to Your Attorney Is Confidential
It’s important to note that anything that you say to your legal counsel is privileged information. This means that it will not be leaked to the authorities, the media or anyone else. As a general rule, it’s in your interest to be as honest with this person as possible to ensure that he or she can provide the possible defense.
If you are facing federal charges, do not hesitate to hire a legal representative. This person will likely be the only one who will advocate for you without conditions throughout the course of your case. Furthermore, your attorney is likely the only person in your life who actually understands the law and can use it to your advantage. Ultimately, the sooner that you put a legal team together, the less likely it is that you will say or do anything that will help the government prove its case against you.