Criminal Defense Lawyer Greenville SC

Cases Our Greenville Criminal Defense Lawyer Can Handle

Regardless of the complexity of a criminal defense case, it is crucial to your well-being and freedom to acquire the counsel of an experienced criminal law attorney. Having handled over 1,000 cases, our law firm in Duncan, SC knows what it takes to help you seek a favorable outcome. Your life is at stake; trust your matter to someone who has your best interests in mind.

What Do Criminal Defense Lawyers Do?

A criminal defense attorney plays a critical role in the criminal justice system. As an advocate for their client, they are responsible for providing them with a vigorous and thorough defense against the criminal charges brought against them by the government.

A criminal defense lawyer’s role includes evaluating evidence to identify any potential defenses and representing their client’s interests both in and out of court. They often negotiate plea bargains that reduce or eliminate charges in exchange for a guilty plea.

Criminal defense attorneys also research legal issues, develop strategies to challenge the prosecution's case, prepare motions and conduct cross-examinations. In some cases, they may also work with experts to help build a strong defense on behalf of their client.

Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the criminal lawyer to ensure that their client’s legal rights are protected throughout the entire criminal process.
 

What Should I Look For When Hiring a Criminal Defense Attorney?

1) Their Case Results

You should look for an attorney with a proven track record of winning cases. If an attorney has been practicing for many years, then they should have a record of favorable outcomes, such as convictions overturned on appeal and negotiated plea offers.

2) Personality

Do you like your lawyer as a person? You should feel comfortable with them as they will be your ally and friend throughout the entire ordeal. You must also feel like they have your interests at heart and fight as hard as they can.

3) Reviews From Clients

A great defense lawyer should have years of reviews on their track record. A great criminal lawyer should be able to set expectations, leading to happy clients leaving a positive review.

4) Cost

Great attorneys often cost more than the cheap ones. But cheap attorneys can lead to a costly mistake down the road such as leading to you losing the case, losing your job, losing your income, losing your home. Many people say, “I can’t afford to hire a great attorney”, can you not afford to hire a great lawyer if you knew that you could lose so much more than money by hiring a cheap attorney?

5) Experience

You should look to hire a lawyer that is well versed in handling criminal defense cases, not someone that does it part-time, nor a lawyer that is a “jack of all trades.” You should also look for a lawyer that knows the judge, police, and prosecutors because a great lawyer should know the opposition; having someone in your team that knows the opposing team is a great advantage.

What Is a Preliminary Hearing in South Carolina?

A preliminary hearing is sometimes called a “probable cause” hearing. During the preliminary hearing, the evidence is heard by a magistrate without a jury to decide whether or not there is enough evidence for your case to go forward to a grand jury for indictment. You don’t have to be at the hearing if your criminal law attorney is there on your behalf. South Carolina law states that a defendant who requests a preliminary hearing in a timely manner should have the hearing held within 10 days of the request. If the case gets indicted by the grand jury before the preliminary hearing occurs, then it won't be held.