There are criminal defense attorneys in Australia who provide free consultation through the Internet. Consult the lawyers and you will get the protection of law and will not be arrested immediately. An experienced criminal defense attorney will advise you on how you can avail of your right to get bail, if that is possible in your case. If you do not hire your own attorney, you may get a court appointed attorney who may not be sympathetic towards you and there may be chances that you might lose your case.
Criminal cases such as felony are very tricky and need very intelligent, heavy hitting and aggressive representation as the punishment in such cases may range from one year's imprisonment to a life sentence. So if you or your loved one ever needs the services of a criminal defense attorney, you have to be very careful in choosing the right one as your future will depend on his expertise.
Choose a criminal defense solicitor who is known for his honesty and sincerity towards his clients. He should hold a high and respectable rank in the legal fraternity.
An ideal criminal defense attorney should have at least 10 years of experience in criminal defense cases and his whole law practice should have been exclusively devoted exclusively to criminal cases. Such attorneys, based on their knowledge and experience, can use creative defense strategies in manipulating them in their substantive appearance for the defense of the rights of their clients. A good criminal defense attorney pays personal attention to each client and does not contract out the cases. He holds an excellent reputation with the judges, prosecutors and court personnel. He is familiar with the rules, personalities and the pitfalls of the courtroom procedures.
A good criminal defense solicitor has a competent legal support staff to handle the various aspects of the crime such as a case manager, primary/lead counsel, secondary counsel, an investigator, a paralegal and so on. The team of experts collects collates and compiles the relevant facts so that they can be forcefully presented before the court.
Even if you are found guilty, a good criminal defense attorney can successfully negotiate with the prosecution and arrange for reduced charges or softer sentencing. He can formulate the sentencing programs considering the specific needs of the clients and help them avoid future encounters with the judicial system.
In most cases, a criminal defense solicitor provides the client with a knowledgeable reality check in respect of his case so as to present an objective perspective on his legal situation. Imprisonment is only one of the many consequences, which you may have to consider regarding the criminal charges leveled against you. There are court costs, fines, restitution, probation, restrictions such as your right to purchase fire arms, restrictions on future employment options and so on. The criminal defense attorney enlightens the client about the legal consequences of taking the case to trial. This enlightenment is important for the defendant in helping him to decide whether to accept a prosecutor's offered "plea bargain". He also advises his client whether to go for an out- of- the- court settlement, if possible.
The basic principle is who you hire is who you get. If you bet on a weak horse, you are sure to lose the race. So when your life and liberty are at stake, it is always advisable to go for the best so as to get the results that matter.
The best way to find a criminal defense attorney is through the referrals of your friends and relatives. The other way is to search the web. You can browse through the websites for preliminary background and if you find a particular lawyer or firm competent, you can further proceed with the matter of hiring a solicitor to handle your case.