Why Should I Hire an Attorney Instead of a Public Defender?

If you are charged with a crime, should you hire your own attorney or just go with an assigned public defender? Public defenders can do some good work, but there are a few reasons to consider hiring a Bergen County criminal defense attorney from our firm instead. Here is what defendants should know about both options.

What Are the Disadvantages of Working with a Public Defender?

Many public defenders are competent attorneys who are doing their best for their clients. However, there are some disadvantages to working with public defenders no matter how skilled they are. Many of these drawbacks are not the fault of an individual public defender. Instead, many of the following issues are primarily caused by the constraints of the system and how many resources are available to their offices.

When you work with a public defender, you may find that:

• They have a heavy caseload
• They may not have access to the same kinds of resources, like expert witnesses or investigators, that a private attorney might have at their disposal
• They suggest that you plead out instead of getting ready to fight your case in court
• They do not help with civil matters that could be related to your charge, like hearings related to the revocation of your driver’s license after a DWI

If any of these things worry you, it may be best to hire a defense attorney of your own.

What Can a Criminal Defense Attorney Do For Me?

A criminal defense attorney from our firm will do everything that they can to help you fight for the best possible outcome in your case. Your lawyer will:

Look at the specific facts of your case: A public defender will rarely have the time to really look over an individual case. An attorney from our firm will take the time to review everything and develop a more specific defense.

Communicate with you often: Most of the time, if you have a question you can just call up our firm and talk to your attorney. If there are any updates on your case, your lawyer will also be quick to reach out and let you know.

Help with civil matters: If you are dealing with a civil matter as a result of your criminal charge, one of our attorneys is better equipped to help with that than a public defender would be. If we cannot help you with something, we can refer you to someone who can assist you.

Gather evidence: Our attorneys have access to investigators who can dig up useful evidence and experts who can testify on your behalf. This makes it easier to build a winning case.

Make your case in court, if need be: Many public defenders are overworked and are not eager to take cases to court as a result. A lawyer from our firm has a lighter caseload, so they are more willing to build you a case that can succeed in court.

Schedule a Consultation with Our Law Firm

Your freedom and rights are on the line, so be sure to explore all of your options. Contact the Law Office of Attorney Conway and learn more about how we can help you fight criminal charges.