Criminal defense lawyers are often looked upon as the bad guys, getting people off. That is simply not the case. Most criminal defense attorneys, myself included, view the profession as a honorable calling; an opportunity to do great things and help those in need. I chose this area of practice to uphold those views and to vigorously defend the individual rights afforded by the Federal and State Constitution.

It is imperative that clients continually educate themselves on legal issues to realize the severity of certain types of charges. Most fail to realize the additional consequences that accompany a guilty plea/verdict in certain cases. For example, for some charges, a person may lose their driving privileges, voting privileges, right to own a firearm, or face a mandatory sentence for having a combination of certain charges.

Clients that educate themselves and understand the potential consequences if found guilty of the charges are truly aware of the bigger picture and can be more involved in the preparation of the defense.

I am very willing to review documents prepared by clients if the client also has the original paperwork associated with the case, including, but not limited to: official transcripts, criminal complaint, police reports, affidavits, etc.

I am very hesitant to meet with clients wanting to represent themselves. The practice of law can be very technical and complex. Additionally, the situations often change as the case progresses thus mandating an experienced trial attorney to recognize the changes, adapt and still present a zealous defense to the charges, right there on the spot.

Often, clients who represent themselves are unable to remain flexible to the fast changing pace of the practice of law and eventually end up doing more damage than good.