The job of a criminal defence attorney is not the most credited one. From minor criminal offences to mass murder, the lawyer's responsibility is extensive. He has to build a strong defence for his client, irrespective of the intensity of the allegations.
The mixed reaction of society regarding criminal defence prevails for a reason. Some say that lawyers promote a person's constitutional right to have a fair trial. While some have a perception that they represent society's worst criminals. No matter what, criminal defence lawyers have their satisfaction while tackling complex cases with high stakes. Ultimately, they feel they have the right to provide criminal justice and do it with pride.
Secrets & strategies
The work of a criminal defence lawyer is exhausting. It's more difficult done than speak. It's no surprise keeping in mind the number of strategies they need to implement. A lot is going on in their mind that needs to be kept a secret from the world.
Here are a few secrets and strategies that every professional criminal defence lawyer in Austin must implement.
Keep personal feelings aside from the process.
It's a secret to being successful in the field. Just as society perceives, lawyers represent criminal matters which is true. However, the lawyer must keep his personal feelings aside from what he thinks about the crime his client committed. He still has to stand up without any interference in their perception.
Thorough research of the Juror's background
Billy Jensen says that predicting the potential Juror (or jury) is always challenging. That information is kept a secret from many of us. Most of the time, the jury arrives in a mood to convict. Playing with the Juror's backgrounds helps to change their minds. The lawyer can voluntarily and unwittingly expose the natural bias of the jurors he thinks can be problematic. Also, he can hit upon the weak areas which the jury thinks are critical for society. So, the background of the panel has to be thoroughly researched.
Watch the words of the client.
There is a standard recommendation in the criminal scenario. The client can be the enemy of himself. They should never talk to anyone about the case without their criminal defence lawyer. While many clients do not understand the importance, they have never been able to talk their way out of not guilty (by themselves).
An innocent can make the lawyer's task more difficult.
While most people think they are innocent, nothing can stop them from getting out of the scene. It's only fair if they think so. The fact that the client can be punished for something he didn't do can stress the lawyers. However, it creates a sense of additional strain on the case. Considering some previous cases, more often than not, when the attorney feels that his client is innocent, he has not been able to prove it. The culprit is excessive extra stress.
The appearance of the client does matter.
Whether the client is innocent or guilty, the appearance creates an image in the jury's mind. It might also make a difference in their verdict. So, if the client is wearing a heavy metal t-shirt and ripped jeans, the lawyer always suggests he do some shopping and wear button-down shirts and respectful trousers.
Public opinion can change how they strategize the case.
Criminal cases attract many headlines from newspapers and channels. As a result, there is always some popular opinion of the general public. It can help in favour of or against the strategy already made. After all, the jury is a small portion of the general public. The lawyer has to convince them in favour of or against public opinion. The strategy has to be correctly outlined according to popular belief.
