Understanding Australian Law

The Australian legal system comprises many laws and branches of law. Therefore, it follows that there are many different types of lawyers, with each specialising in a particular branch of law. If you are facing criminal charges, you will need to enlist the services of a criminal lawyer. This is because criminal law is extremely complex for a layman to decipher, plus the punishment for those found guilty of criminal charges can be rather harsh or severe. A criminal lawyer can guide and represent you through the entire court process, while seeking the most favourable result for you. Getting a favourable court decision may mean different things, including being fully acquitted of the crime you are charged with or getting a sentence other than being sent to jail. 

Read on to understand what a criminal lawyer can do to ensure you get a desirable outcome in the courtroom. 

Requesting for and analysing the evidence gathered against you

If you've already been summoned to appear in court on a particular date to answer to criminal charges, it means that the prosecutor or prosecuting attorney has collected evidence that they plan to use against you in the courtroom. One of the first and most important steps that your criminal lawyer will take is to request for the evidence that the prosecutor intends to present against you. The lawyer will then go through and analyse that evidence to find out the strengths and weaknesses of the case. Once your lawyer is through with the analysis, they will discuss all of the important details with you so as to develop effective defense strategies and/or to determine the next best course of action.

Evaluating alternatives to prison time

A lot of people who are accused of committing a crime are often worried that they will be automatically sent to jail if they are found guilty of the crime. However, that is not always the case. Imprisonment tends to be a more common outcome in court cases involving serious crime, such as murder, armed robbery and drink driving. So, if you are accused of minor misdemeanors like petty theft, trespassing, or disorderly conduct in a public area, your lawyer can solicit for an alternative form of punishment so you do not end up in jail. Some alternatives forms of punishment to jail time include paying a fine, community service, probation and restitution. Of course, this depends largely upon the type of charges filed against you and your criminal records.