Anyone who is arrested has the right to defend themselves and hire a lawyer. However, some people might not have the funds available to hire a New York lawyer, so they opt for using a public defender instead. While most public defenders have good intentions and will do everything in their power to defend you, there are many risks associated with using them. We’ve explained some of those risks here and why hiring a law firm in NYC is usually the better option.
The Demand For Public Defenders Is Very High
At any given time, the demand for public defenders across the United States is higher than the number of qualified professionals available to provide assistance. This simply means you might not be able to have a public defender assigned to you right away. And there’s no guarantee the public defender will have expertise in the crime you’ve been charged with.
Most Public Defenders Have More Cases Than They Can Handle
The more cases a public defender is handling, the less time they have to spend on your case. They might only take a few minutes to ask you questions and review the case before defending you in court. When a public defender doesn’t have a lot of time, you might not get quality legal advice because they did not have the time to look at all available options in your situation.
A Public Defender Might Not Be An Expert In The Crime You’ve Been Charged With
Working with a public defender instead of a criminal attorney in New York means you’re taking a chance on the expertise of the person assigned to your case. Since the demand for public defenders is higher than the number available, chances are the public defender assigned to your case won’t be an expert in the crime you’ve been charged with.
Hiring A Lawyer Improves Your Chance Of Succeeding
Hiring a New York lawyer is almost always the better option if you want to have a favorable outcome in your case. A criminal attorney in New York will only take your case if they have expertise in the area and they will spend the necessary time required to fully explore your options and defend you thoroughly.
Gordon & Gordon has expertise in many different legal areas. As a top law firm in NYC, your chances of succeeding with your defense will be much higher working with our firm compared to a public defender. We understand everyone’s situation is unique, so contact us today to schedule a free consultation to review your case.