When it comes to a run-in with the law, no two cases or situations are exactly alike. Many different factors come into play. In the same sense, a traffic ticket attorney and a public defender do not offer quite the same services. They are similar yet unalike as well.
If you find yourself in need of legal representation, you will need to decide whether you want a criminal defense lawyer or a public defender to represent you. You also need to understand the difference between the two. If you have a misdemeanor and feel pretty good about your chances, you might not be too worried about who represents you. But for felonies and more serious charges, you will need all the help that you can get.
Thanks to the sixth amendment, everyone has the right to legal representation. That doesn’t necessarily mean free legal representation, though. However, if you cannot afford legal help, a public defender will often be offered to you through the court.
You Want a Traffic Ticket Attorney to Represent You
It is typically preferable to hire a traffic ticket attorney since you will be able to choose your representation, and you can be as picky as you like. Since you will be working with them for some time, you will want to make sure that they are somewhat likable and someone that you feel you can trust.
Public defenders are also often overworked due to many low-income clients. This means that you may not get the very best representation since they simply do not have the time to really delve into your case or put in many hours despite how determined or committed they may be.
If you are hiring a legal professional to represent you, you should look for some qualities that will indicate that you are getting the most bang for your buck. Just like anyone you deal with in public relations or customer service, you will want to be dealing with someone who is easy-to-talk-to and at least somewhat personable.
A professional of the law is presumed to be motivated, learned in their field of work, and personable, but they are people after all, and you may find some more favorable over others. More importantly, they should be competent enough to handle your case even if you wouldn’t consider them to be worthy of being your golfing buddy.
Since the law is always changing, your representation should be up on the most recent changes and should also be learned in not only the laws of your state but with federal laws as well. Other qualities to look for will include:
- Experience
- Good reviews
- Organized
- Punctual
- Empathetic
If they have these or most of these qualities, they will be more likely to win your case because they will be competent and better able to win over the courtroom.
No matter what charges you are faced with, you will want all the skill and luck on your side that you can get. With the right person, you will quite possibly be able to gain a reduced sentence and lower fines. They often have resources and the know-how to get you a better defense and are likely plugged into a network of other legal advisors who can help better your case.
Criminal defense lawyers typically work for a firm that will uphold them to higher standards, and they may specialize in certain areas of the law. They will often represent clients who need representation for:
- Assault
- DUI or other driving infractions
- Drugs
- Theft
- Weapons
- Prostitution
The Public Defender
A public defender is appointed to those who do not have or who cannot afford legal aid, which means that you basically get what you get. It is better to have legal representation than not, so if you have no other choice, you will likely be better off than if you tried to represent yourself. When you are arranged for your charges, you will be able to request a public defender from the judge. You will have to prove that you cannot afford legal representation, which may require you to fill out a questionnaire.
If you have to go with a public defender, it does not necessarily mean that you will get bad legal representation or that you will lose your case. The truth is that the criminal system has its flaws, and it can be hard for even the most devoted and passionate public defender to get any headway through all the red tape. There are many great public defenders out there, and you might luck out and get one that can maneuver through all the currents.
Whether you get a lawyer or a public defender to represent you, you will need to keep in contact with your legal representative. They may require additional information from you, and you may need to sign forms or meet with them from time to time to get an update on things. You want to make sure that you make yourself available to your legal advisor so that you don’t cause any delays in your case. They are going to bat for you, and you want to make it easy for them to fight for you. So, if you can afford one, it is strongly advisable to get a traffic ticket attorney to represent you because you really don’t want to leave your chances to luck.