You probably are not talking to a criminal defense attorney at law because you are at a dinner party, odds are you were arrested or could be arrested and need to know your rights and what to do.  Your criminal defense attorney at law is going to be your biggest advocate. They took an oath to represent their client, you, as avidly as possible. Speaking to your criminal defense attorney at law is incredibly important because the way you talk to him or she will dictate your relationship, impact your case, and affect your representation.

Be Cooperative

It is very important that you work just as hard as your criminal attorney at law to maintain a relationship.  If you do not return calls, do not contribute to meetings, or are just plain rude or uninterested, it will make it very difficult for your attorney to work with you.  If you become the client that never returns calls, then your criminal defense attorney may call less and try to put together your case with what little information he or she has to go on.  Working together could mean the difference between staying in jail until trial and getting out right away. Even if you are already out on bail, or are not required to be in jail, your defense depends on your ability to effectively communicate with your criminal defense attorney at law.

Another cooperative communication tip deals with a more sensitive matter but is necessary to mention.  Even though you are personally involved in your case and passionate about it, do not get upset if your attorney is not emotional.   Your criminal defense attorney at law has many clients, and the only way he or she can effectively do their job is if they are not emotionally invested in every case.  Remaining professional allows the knowledge part of the brain to remain activated and the emotional/irrational part of the brain asleep.

Tell Your Story Chronologically

Tell your story from start to finish as accurately as possible.  Your criminal defense attorney at law is human, so telling your story by jumping around from event to event, is going to be difficult to understand.  Speak slow, take notes beforehand if necessary, the important part is telling your story as accurately as possible. In many cases, what happened first and what happened next is very important.  If your criminal defense attorney at law does not know the proper sequence, your freedom could be at stake.

Should I Tell the Whole Truth?

This is something every defendant probably asks themselves when first speaking to their criminal defense attorney at law.  Although attorney-client privilege does exist, and your conversations are confidential, your criminal defense attorney at law cannot allow evidence that he or she knows to be false.  If you tell your attorney that you are guilty, then he or she cannot put you on the stand to testify that you are innocent. That would be offering evidence known to be false and allowing you to perjure (lie under oath) yourself.  However, your attorney can still defend you if you reveal your guilt using other defenses, for example, improper search and seizure, probable cause, etc.

At the end of the day, the most important thing to remember when speaking with your criminal defense attorney at law is to foster a positive attorney-client relationship.  Your freedom, criminal record, and future employment could depend on your ability to effectively communicate.

NOTE: This is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.