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Many people, at some point in their life, will find it necessary to find a lawyer. When searching for a lawyer it is important to find one that specializes in your kind of case; you don’t want a lawyer who primarily deals with traffic violations to defend you in a robbery case. There are two main types of lawyers, civil lawyers that deal with cases involving relationships and criminal lawyers that deal with cases like robbery and assault. Finding a lawyer with a lot of experience is also important. When researching a lawyer, feel free to ask them how many cases they have won and examples of the kinds of cases they handle. If they give you that information willingly then they are most likely a very good choice.
Lawyers are well versed in the intricacies of the law and will help you from getting caught in legal traps and will keep you informed of your rights. If you feel that the evidence against you was obtained illegally or is irrelevant to the case then you have the right to a pre-trial where you can challenge the evidence. Because there are so many intricacies in the law it is important to have a lawyer who will know how to use the law in your favor.
Law varies from state to state so when you are choosing a lawyer to defend you it is important to make sure they have experience in your state, so if you were from Chicago then you should get a lawyer who has been practicing in Illinois for many years. Another thing to keep in mind is that when picking a lawyer you should not choose the cheapest lawyer you can find, nor should you pick the one with the fanciest website. Choosing the right lawyer might take up a few minutes of your time but it can save you many years of trouble with the law and court system.

When accused of a crime the first thing you should do is find out the type of crime you have been accused of. This is important because this will affect the kind of legal representation you look for. There are different types of crimes that are ranked by their seriousness. They can be divided into four categories. The first is called petty misdemeanor, which is a non-criminal offense and the maximum penalty amount is $300 with no jail time. The second type is called a misdemeanor. The punishment for this crime can be up to 90 days in jail and /or a fine of $1,000. Gross misdemeanor is the third type and an accused is put behind bars for a year and/or has to pay a fine of $3000. The fourth type of crime is a felony. A person charged with a felony can be jailed for over one year according to the crime and/or be fined $3,000.

Any individual charged with any type of crime has the right to hire a lawyer. If he or she fails to do so because of economic reasons then the State is responsible for providing him or her with a lawyer. The accused does not have an obligation to speak about the offense or divulge any details to the people investigating the crime. When speaking to a lawyer everything that is said is confidential.

Everyone accused of a crime has rights. For example, the accused has the right to a lawyer and to be judged by a judge or a jury depending on the charges. In a trial the State has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the person is guilty. In a jury trial you must have all the members of the jury agree to the punishment. A person accused of a crime has the right to subpoena witnesses to come to court on a specific date and testify. The accused can stay silent throughout the trail and no one can force him to speak, not even the judge.