Facing conviction for a misdemeanor or felony can be an extremely grueling experience, with a risk of lifelong repercussions. If you find yourself in such a situation, in Killeen, the best thing to do is to stop panicking, and channelize your energy towards finding a competent criminal lawyer to present your case in court. While you might think that it would be logical to save on your lawyer fee and fight the case on your own, this could end up landing you in deeper trouble than you can imagine, and you might have to eventually pay a lot more towards fines and penalties.
The greatest benefit of hiring a criminal lawyer is that he has extensive knowledge of the criminal system, and can hence carefully evaluate your case, and see how to best present it in your favor, bearing in mind the laws surrounding it. This stands true in either case- whether you are guilty or not. In both cases, the role of a criminal lawyer cannot be overlooked, since he shall work on highlighting your strengths in the case, and masking your weaknesses.
Your attorney shall also guide you on courtroom etiquette, training you on what to say and what not to say during your trial. Upon evaluating your case, your attorney shall clearly explain your position to you, and let you know what to expect. This helps in making you mentally prepared before the actual courtroom decision. Factors like whether this is your first conviction, and the circumstances of your arrest shall also count in determining to what extent your lawyer can assist you. Depending on your case, there are various solutions that your lawyer could suggest, such as suggesting that you be sent to counseling or drug rehab, or requesting your release on your own recognizance until the day of your trial.
The role of your attorney also continues after the trial, since he can help you in applying for expungement, to clear the case off your records. While this might be relatively easier in case of misdemeanors, it is a lot more difficult if you have a felony on your criminal record. However, hiring a lawyer from a renowned law firm like Seigman, Starritt-Burnett & Sinkfield, PLLC, can make it possible to have your record cleared.
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