Your Maryland Criminal Defense Attorney

Most people never expect to need a Maryland criminal defense attorney. However, things can happen unexpectedly. If you have been accused of a crime, your criminal defense attorney can serve as both ally and guide, helping you through to navigate the process and build your defense. Of course, not all criminal defense lawyers are the same. Provided here is a basic guide to hiring a criminal defense attorney.

Finding an Attorney

A quick look in the Yellow Pages or search on your favorite internet search engine will reveal numerous advertisements for criminal defense lawyers. The first step is to narrow the field to a few potential candidates.

Criminal Defense for the Accused

Criminal defense can be confusing to many people. If you are accused of a crime, you may wonder what will happen next. You may not know how to hire a Maryland lawyer or what to do to defend yourself. Fortunately, in the United States, criminal procedure follows a series of steps. Knowing how the process works can help you to stay calm and make the correct decisions. Each case is different, so it is important to retain a criminal defense attorney in your location. Provided here is a general guide to criminal procedure.

Miranda Rights and Criminal Defense

Although criminal defense may take many forms, it begins with the invocation of certain basic Constitutional rights. These rights are commonly known as Miranda rights. Most Americans have a basic awareness of the Miranda rights, but may not know exactly what is involved. If you are unsure whether your Miranda rights have been violated, it is important that you seek the advice of a qualified maryland criminal defense lawyer. Provided here is a general guide to Miranda rights, which is not intended to serve as legal advice.

Miranda v. Arizona

Miranda rights are named for Ernesto Miranda, who was arrested for rape in 1963. At that time, defendants were not informed of their rights, but were granted permission to speak with a criminal defense lawyer if they requested it.

Three Stikes Laws and Criminal Defense

Three strikes laws can complicate criminal defense procedures for clients who are accused of their third criminal offense. Three strikes laws are based on the belief that some offenders simply cannot be reformed. Under the terms of these laws, offenders who are convicted of felonies for the third time are automatically sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for many years (usually, but not always, 25 years). Over 20 states including Maryland as well as the federal government currently have these laws on the books. However, the laws vary somewhat between legislatures.

Three strikes laws were designed to keep violent offenders off the streets. However, many a maryland criminal defense lawyer argue that these laws are unnecessarily harsh on many nonviolent offenders whose crimes are relatively minor.

Finding a Maryland Personal Injury Lawyer

If you are injured due to someone else’s actions, it is reasonable to expect to be compensated for your personal injuries. However, the reality is that, in Maryland, this does not always happen without a fight. You may be unaware of exactly what your rights are and how to proceed in obtaining the personal injury money to which you are legally entitled. A Maryland personal injury lawyer can help you through the process. However, you must be careful in making your selection. Not all personal injury lawyers are created equal, and choosing the wrong attorney can be expensive. Here is a guide to finding a Maryland personal injury attorney.

Hiring a Maryland Criminal Defense Lawyer

If you are accused of a felony or misdemeanor in Maryland, it is strongly recommended that you consult with a Maryland criminal defense lawyer. Even if you plan to act as your own attorney in Maryland court, which may be possible in some cases, you will benefit from receiving expert legal advice about the proceedings. An attorney can give you his or her expert opinion about the likely progression of the case, including motions to file, possible defenses and even possible consequences of being found guilty.If the crime is at all serious, it is highly recommended that you retain a Maryland attorney for the entire process. However, many people are unsure how to find and hire an attorney in Maryland. Here is a short guide to the hiring process.

Understanding Criminal Law

If you are accused of a crime in Maryland, you will likely be concerned about what happens next. It is highly recommended that you seek the advice of a qualified Maryland attorney who can help you through the process and give you an expert opinion on your particular case. To assist the beginning process, here is a general overview of criminal law.

Working with your Maryland Lawyer

No matter where you live, working with a lawyer can be difficult at times. If you have done your homework and found a great attorney, then you and your lawyer will both have your best interest at heart. However, how to go about achieving the results you want, or even what results to try to obtain, can become a source of debate. Here is what you need to know about working with your lawyer during difficult times.

Kill All The Lawyers?

The first rule of medicine, at least from the Grey’s Anatomy episodes my wife subjects me to is “Do no harm,” so I think it’s natural to wonder what is the first rule of lawyering? For those of you in the “club” who have ever been asked you if “Rule number one had been observed?” knows, lawyering does not seem to have the noble guiding principles of Hippocrates undergirding the modern practice.

Welcome

Welcome to the Blackford and Flohr Law Blog, where you can find information about starting your own law firm, managing cases, and developing effective legal strategies. Blackford and Flohr are Maryland lawyers who serve the Baltimore, Anne Arundel county, and Baltimore county regions and surrounding areas. Experienced trial lawyers, Blackford and Flohr are currently focusing on criminal defense.