A criminal lawyer is an individual, skilled in the practice of criminal law, who represents the interests of an individual who has been accused of committing a crime. In a criminal case, the accused is represented by a criminal lawyer in Orange County while the prosecutor stands for the government. Criminal lawyers can find themselves using a wide range of defense tactics depending on the case and its severity. Obviously the tactics used in defending a person accused of speeding is very different to the tactics used when defending someone accused of murder or other heinous crime.
A criminal lawyer in Orange County can work for a law firm or be a solo practitioner. A criminal lawyer can also be hired by the government and be assigned as a public defender. A public defender is a lawyer that is assigned to an individual who has been accused of a crime but cannot afford to hire their own lawyer.
The primary task of a criminal lawyer is to advocate for the client. This can be difficult at times as a lawyer must set aside his or her own opinion of the accused and the case. It is the lawyer’s responsibility to champion the case of the client regardless of whether he actually believes the client to be innocent or not. In many cases the lawyer does not want to know whether the client actually is innocent or guilty as it can have a detrimental effect on the way the case is approached, the lawyer must present the case in such a way as to dispute the accusations of the prosecution.
A criminal lawyer in Orange County spends time in court. In addition to being in court, defending his client during the course of the trial, the lawyer is also called upon to make appearance on behalf of the client such as bail hearings and other administrative issues.
A criminal lawyer conducts considerable legal research in an effort to find a historic case or a statutory interpretation of a law that can be used to help bolster the client’s case. The lawyer will also take depositions and interview witnesses as well as engaging private investigators and expert witnesses if these people are thought necessary as part of the defense strategy.
A criminal lawyer in Orange County is a necessity if you have been accused of committing a crime. In these circumstances you are invited to contact the law offices of Christopher J. McCann.
