Why Work with a Defense Attorney Over a Public Defender?

If you are charged with a criminal offense in Dallas, Texas, you need legal help. A criminal defense lawyer can help you determine how to proceed with your case. The right lawyer will work with you to explore all your options and then help you choose the right one.

If you are a defendant in a criminal case, you have the option of working with a public defender or hiring a private defense attorney. Both options have their pros and cons. The benefits of hiring a professional lawyer, however, far outweigh the advantages offered by a public defender.

Downsides of Working with a Public Defender

The criminal justice system in Texas stipulates that you must be assigned legal counsel if you are unable to hire one as a criminal defendant.

The Fair Defense Act of 2021 largely formalized the process used to assign such public defenders. The Act ensures that qualified attorneys are appointed for representation promptly.

However, many flaws in the system remain. A major downside of working with a public defender is that the state-assigned attorney is often overloaded with cases. It is common for public defenders to juggle a large number of cases simultaneously. This means they are often unable to put dedicated time, energy, and effort into each case.

Another problem is that you can’t do anything if you are not satisfied with your assigned counsel. You may request the court to change your legal counsel but the court isn’t legally bound to oblige. So you may be stuck with an attorney who doesn’t care about your case and fails to produce a robust defense for your charges.

Benefits of Hiring a Private Defense Attorney

A private defense attorney can help you fight off your criminal charges more effectively. You can choose the attorney you trust, and work closely with them for a suitable defense. You can also meet the lawyer by visiting their office whereas meeting a public defender in contrast can often be a challenge.

Private lawyers usually have a low workload with few clients, which means that your case gets the attention it deserves. Your legal counsel may hire experts, consult witnesses, scour through the evidence, and hire private investigators to explore your case from every angle.

The outcome of your case also has an impact on the reputation and financial future of a private attorney you hire. These act as additional incentives for the lawyer to give his or her best to your case.

Learn How a Criminal Defense Lawyer Can Help Your Case

If you have been criminally charged in Dallas, you should seek legal help as soon as possible. Here at Chris Lewis & Associates P.C., we will work to have your criminal charges dismissed or reduced. In doing so, we will closely examine your case to create an effective defense.

Call us today at 214-665-6930 or fill out the following form to discuss your criminal case with our lawyers via a free consultation.