August 16, 2018
Why Honesty is the Best Policy when Meeting with Your Defense Attorney
No one likes the guilt that comes with committing a crime. Sometimes the last thing we want to do when we’re guilty is telling other people. There is one person you always should tell if you commit a crime: your attorney. If you don’t share vital information with your defense attorney, how can they help you? Your attorney is your best defense, literally, when it comes to helping you after you’ve committed a crime.
Always be Honest with Your Defense Attorney
A smart, capable defense attorney is your best ally. Your defense attorney can craft a better defense once they know all the facts. Your attorney doesn’t need to know about your case to judge you or be nosy. Any successful lawyer has heard a dozen stories like yours and knows that good people make bad choices. Your defense attorney needs to ask questions to find the best strategy for defending your rights, not to decide if you’re a good or bad person.
Tell Your Attorney if You Committed a Crime
Never be afraid to disclose any criminal charges with your attorney. Ethics and attorney/client privilege will stop your lawyer from inappropriately revealing anything that you share. Your defense attorney may ask you if you “did it,” but only because they want to know about any facts that will work in your favor to make you appear less culpable to a jury.
Your defense attorney can only successfully advise you when they know all the facts. This may mean going over the details of your case ad nauseam as your attorney tries to find weak spots in the police investigation or the prosecution’s case. Being honest with your attorney means that he will be able to advise you whether or not to accept a plea deal or if you would be better off going before a jury.
Your attorney’s job is to provide you with a strong defense and to protect your legal rights. That’s why it’s always important to divulge all the facts and ensure that you and your attorney are on the same page.