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Crimes

What Qualities Should a Criminal Defense Lawyer Have?


— August 3, 2022

No matter the odds of your case, criminal defense lawyers must remain committed to their clients because one wrong move can make or break a person’s life. 


When you have been charged with a crime, you will never want to appear in court unprepared. Past events show that individuals lose their cases as they are unaware of their legal rights and the technicalities involved in a court proceeding. Criminal lawsuits require you to go through a lengthy list of proceedings. So, it’s important for someone facing criminal charges to seek assistance from an expert criminal defense attorney.

Many people think that hiring an attorney will make them lose a lot of money. But you must understand that losing a case can even land you in jail. So, while hiring a criminal lawyer, make sure to look for the following traits so that you can be confident that the person will do everything possible to win the case.

  • Effective communication skills

A lawyer who is specialized in dealing with criminal cases must have good communication skills so that your case is put forth to the judge in an effective way. The right facts should reach the right person through the right words.

  • Good analytical skills

Being in the legal profession, a criminal defense attorney must possess the analytical skills needed to synthesize information for the presentation of the trial. Moreover, there may be circumstances (while the case is on trial) where the lawyer needs to assess the situation then and there and conduct the proceedings accordingly.

  • Efficient public speaker

Having good oratory skills shows one’s confidence in what is being said. If criminal defense attorneys do not exhibit the trait of good public speakers, it will force them to settle the case at hand. In fact, a lawyer who is not confident to speak in public will falter while presenting a case in front of people witnessing the court proceedings.

  • A good speaker is also a good listener

Until and unless lawyers learn to be good listeners, they will never become good criminal defense lawyers. It is important because, as a lawyer, you must listen carefully to what the client’s lawyer has to say to devise an apt way of moving ahead with the case.

  • Decision-making skills

Probably the most significant trait a lawyer must have is reasonable decision-making skills. An attorney should be able to arrive at the right decision based on a realistic comprehension of the current events and the available info.

  • Maintains confidentiality

    A woman holds her finger to her lips in the classic Shhhh position.
    Silence, please. Photo by N G, via Flickr. CC BY-ND 2.0

Every client would want their case information to remain confidential. A successful criminal defense lawyer knows and respects this fact as any leak of sensitive information to anyone (other than the people involved directly with the case) might impact the trial.

  • Shows integrity

Any criminal case is very dynamic and complex. It is far beyond what you can comprehend. Therefore, your attorney must keep you well informed of the latest developments in your case. You must be made aware of the expected outcome with honesty and integrity.

  • Perseverance

Criminal attorneys must be dedicated to their work. They must be willing to use any argument to protect you and do everything possible to influence the judge or jury.

Conclusion

No matter the odds of your case, criminal defense lawyers must remain committed to their clients because one wrong move can make or break a person’s life.

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