Movies and TV shows can often depict criminal defence lawyers as scheming individuals accumulating money by lying in court for a living. 

As common as this misconception may be to the general public, it is far from an accurate depiction of a real-life criminal justice attorney in Toronto. Here are a few common misconceptions people hold about criminal lawyers that just aren’t true-

3 Misconceptions Surrounding Criminal Defence Lawyers

1. Any Qualified Lawyer Can Defend In A Criminal Case

Lawyers specialize in certain fields to provide the best results to clients through their expertise and knowledge. If a domestic case like divorce comes up, it will make no sense to hire an entertainment lawyer to get a better outcome. 

Similarly, you need someone who is well-versed in criminal law so that they can assist you correctly. A good lawyer can present your case and articulate your rights effectively, which might even lead to reduced sentences or fines.

2. Public Defenders Are As Good As Criminal Defence Attorneys

The thing is, public defenders are overworked and underpaid individuals who are swimming knee-deep in a pile of cases. With the number of ongoing cases in their hands, it is not possible for them to dedicate time, effort, and attention to individual cases. 

Personalized focus on the case is lost, and you may not get the opportunity to communicate properly within the limited time allotted to your case. The second issue is — there are a handful of good public defenders with the right skills to manage your case, but most of them are inexperienced. 

Public defender offices are full of fresh-out-of-school attorneys who do have enough knowledge or experience to tackle criminal cases. This is why it is better to hire a criminal defence lawyer instead of relying on public defenders.

3. Criminal Defense Lawyers Have Questionable Morals 

Popular media likes to show criminal defence lawyers as shady individuals that help criminals get away with crime. While this trope makes for entertaining movies, it is not entirely in touch with reality.

Of course, there are some underhanded individuals in every profession; however, most criminal defence attorneys have a stable moral compass. They have a sense of understanding that they need to balance both — ethics and service to a client. 

Lawyers spend years in the training process and invest huge amounts in going to law school. It is very unlikely that they will be willing to throw all that away only to indulge in wrongdoings.

Final Words

As someone who’s never needed to step into court before, you may not be fully aware of court procedures and the importance of criminal defence lawyers. Thus, it is possible to have misconceptions like assuming that criminal defence attorney consultations are free. 

However, it’s crucial to get in touch with the right lawyer for a criminal case. After all, you don’t want to put your future and life in the hands of an inexperienced lawyer or one who takes criminal cases occasionally.