A defense attorney serves as a guide and confidant for the defendant within the complex criminal justice system. David Serna Attorney points out that these lawyers can either be court-appointed and paid by the government or might be private attorneys paid by the defendant. David Serna is a highly well-established lawyer who has been awarded and acknowledged by numerous organizations, such as the New Mexico Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, the National Association of Distinguished Counsel, the National Board of Trial Advocacy, and the New Mexico Board of Legal Specialization.

Criminal defense attorneys tend to research facts, investigate the case against their clients, and ultimately try to negotiate deals with the prosecutors. David Serna Attorney points out that these deals typically are meant to include reduced sentences, charges or bail money. In the contemporary environment where court calendars are often overloaded, this deal making aspect of the job of criminal defense attorney plays a major role in unclogging the criminal justice system.  A good defense lawyer shall also have the capability to spot particular factors and arguments that can mitigate or even negate any potential crime, and help in reducing the fines and jail time of their clients.

Here are a few of the common tasks carried out by criminal defense lawyers according to David Serna Attorney:

  • Plea Bargains: Criminal defense attorneys work alongside their clients and the prosecutors to negotiate a plea bargain.  This plea bargain might reduce the potential sentence of the clients or eliminate some of the charges made against them. Most prosecutors tend to be unwilling to negotiate with defendants that represent themselves, and hence seeking the aid of a professional criminal defense lawyer when it comes to making a plea bargain is extremely important.
  • Sentencing:  The criminal defense lawyers have the knowledge and expertise needed to figure out a good sentencing program for the situation relevant to their clients. In case the client is found to be guilty, then the criminal defense attorney might be able to negotiate the sentence in a manner that would prevent the defendant from winding back in the criminal justice system. For example, if their client is given a prison sentence for ten months for a drug possession conviction, a criminal defense attorney may suggest a prison sentence of six months and then four months in a drug treatment facility. Such an approach is focused on helping the defendant with the drug problem that landed them in trouble in the first place.

In addition to carrying out a number of expert duties, criminal defense attorneys also provide their clients with a much-needed reality check when it comes to a court conviction. They make sure that the expectations of their clients’ expectations are as realistic as possible, while also fighting tooth and nail on their behalf.  These attorneys remain objective throughout a proceeding, and provide realistic insights into how the trial is actually going to their clients.