If you’ve been accused of a crime in Phoenix, you may be tempted to simply get a public defender. After all, public defenders are free. However, there are many reasons that hiring a private attorney is a better idea (especially if you’ve been charged with a serious crime like sexual abuse). Phoenix’s public defenders are often overworked, inexperienced, and lacking in experience relevant to your charges. This is why private attorneys have higher acquittal rates than public defenders.
Read on to learn more about why it’s important to hire a private criminal defense attorney.
Phoenix’s Public Defenders Are Overworked
Public defenders in Phoenix are managed by the Phoenix Public Defender’s Office. While these attorneys do their best to serve their communities, there are fewer than 100 of them for the entire city of Phoenix. Phoenix has over 1.6 million residents according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This leads to heavy caseloads for public defenders. Public defenders often have to manage dozens of cases at once. This leads to them not giving their clients the attention they need.
Private attorneys have much lower caseloads. They can give each case more attention, which is one of the biggest reasons that private attorneys have higher acquittal rates than public defenders.
A Private Criminal Defense Attorney is More Experienced
It is common for public defenders to be rookie attorneys fresh out of law school. This is because working as a public defender pays less than working through a private law firm. At most, a public defender may have a few years of experience. Of course, experience helps criminal defense lawyers build up their skills and increase their acquittal rates.
Private Lawyers May Have Specific Experience Relevant to Your Case
Public defenders have to take whatever cases they are assigned. This means that they aren’t able to accumulate experience in one area of criminal law. On the other hand, private criminal defense attorneys frequently specialize in one area of criminal law. For example, a private criminal defense attorney may specialize in white-collar crime or DUIs. This experience helps these attorneys have greater success rates in these areas.
How to Find the Right Phoenix Attorney
There are several things that you should keep in mind when looking for a criminal defense attorney in Phoenix. Perhaps most important, you should look for an attorney who has experience defending clients who have been charged with similar crimes. For example, you should hire a Phoenix sexual abuse lawyer to defend you in court if you have been accused of this crime. You can look at the attorney’s website to get an idea of the areas of criminal law that they specialize in. You should also ask your prospective attorney about their experience when you first speak with them. It’s important to remember that the initial consultation is not just about whether the attorney wants to take your case. It’s also important that you determine whether they are right for the job.
