7 Reasons To Hire a Criminal Defense Attorney in Allentown, PA

One of the biggest concerns of a person facing criminal charges is whether to seek legal assistance and whether the lawyer they hire will help them.  IT is undeniable that getting an attorney can be costly.  But, NOT getting an attorney can cost a person much more in the long run—to their family, their career, reputation, licensing, and their livelihood.

If you have a criminal case—whether it’s a DUI, or a retail theft, drug case, assault case, or something else—you should only hire an experienced criminal defense lawyer.  And if your case is in the Lehigh Valley, you should only hire a criminal defense lawyer located in the Lehigh Valley. 

This means that if you have a case in Allentown, you should hire a criminal defense attorney in Allentown.  If your case is somewhere in Lehigh County, then you need a criminal defense attorney in Lehigh County. 

Why should you hire a local criminal defense attorney?

They are familiar with the Ins and Outs of the Judicial System:

If your case is in Lehigh County, then the case will wind up in the county courthouse in Allentown, Pa. The most important reason to work with a criminal defense attorney in Allentown is the lawyer’s familiarity with the judicial system.  

The legal system is complicated and people who represent themselves, or hire a lawyer from another area are facing many pitfalls and pass over many points that they missed and don’t even know they missed. 

They Know the Prosecuting Attorneys Well:

After spending years in the local legal field, a local criminal defense attorney is likely to build relationships with other attorneys, including the prosecutors. Hiring an attorney who knows the prosecuting attorney well can play an important role in the result of your case. 

The defense attorney can much more accurately predict how the prosecutor will view and treat particular cases, based upon past cases of the same type.  That experience and relationship can save you the hassle, time, and money.

They are Experienced in Handling Cases Similar to Yours Before:

Not all criminal defense attorneys are the same. Some attorneys claim to do criminal defense, but also handle car accidents, work injury, medical malpractice, divorce, or other types of law.  IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO SPECIALIZE IN SO MANY DIFFERENT AREAS OF LAW. 

An attorney who claims to specialize in criminal defense should not be doing any cases in divorce, car accidents, or anything else.  An actual criminal defense attorney focuses their legal practice only in criminal defense, which may have some overlap with Protection-from-Abuse and Immigration. 

They Protect Your Constitutional Right:

An experienced criminal defense attorney can make a detailed assessment of whether your constitutional rights were violated during your arrest or anywhere else in the process of your case. 

There are many cases in which the arresting officer made a mistake or took a step beyond legal boundaries, whether by accident or intentionally.  For example, they might not have secured a proper warrant to search property.  There are numerous exceptions to the warrant requirement.  But, there are many cases where a police officer failed to get a search warrant and would like to claim that he meets one of the exceptions, but his case does not. 

 Assessing constitutional rights and search and seizure rules is complex.  A person without legal training would be lost in making this assessment.  This is yet another reason to get an attorney specializing in criminal defense.

They Provide You Emotional Support:

A good defense attorney also provides emotional support which is important for any client going through a criminal case.  Defense attorneys are guided by the law, but must also communicate well and be able to “read” their clients, witnesses, police, other attorneys, and of course, the judge involved.  An effective criminal defense attorney possesses all these skills. 

They Protect Your Future:

An experienced criminal defense attorney stands by you and your future. They can help you get your charges reduced, your penalties eased, or even get you acquitted by proving that you did nothing wrong, did not commit the crime exactly that you are charged with, or that police committed errors in the process that impact the case.  Going to jail is not the only negative consequence of a criminal case. 

Some people are more concerned about protecting their criminal record, or not incurring a permanent felony, or any record at all.  Many people have jobs that are impacted by getting a criminal charge.  This should all be carefully discussed with the attorney and then prioritized with the attorney in terms of which impact is the most important to focus on. 

They Help You Save Money:

Though it goes against common sense, hiring an attorney may end up saving you much more money in the end.  This is most true in relation to your current job or school, your future intended career and any professional licensing.  Criminal cases also sometimes impact driver licenses. 

Even if you are not fired, missing work because of incarceration or prolonged court proceedings could put a strain on your finances.  Attorneys can help you with court scheduling as your case proceeds in order to try and work around your job or school schedule.

The Conclusion:

If you have a criminal case in Lehigh County, you should only be hiring a criminal defense attorney located in Lehigh County.  If you retain someone from elsewhere, you will be hurting yourself beyond what you even recognize or understand.  If you have a criminal case in Northampton County, you should only be hiring a criminal defense attorney in Northampton County.

 You should research carefully to find someone local, who knows the police, district attorneys, and judges.  This will be invaluable for you as your case proceeds, as your lawyer will know what to do and when to do it. They will be able to make accurate predictions that save you time, money, hassle and potentially save your life.