San Antonio Criminal Defense Lawyer

In Texas, there are several layers of courts. The lowest courts are Municipal Courts and Justice Courts. Both can hear criminal misdemeanors punishable by fine only. Still, you may want to have an attorney to represent you to negotiate a lower plea deal or attempt to get deferred adjudication. There are four small claims courts in 4 districts in San Antonio. A hearing in municipal court is most likely to include a parking or speeding ticket.

The next level of courts are County Level Courts. The criminal court is called the Constitutional County Courts. This is the court you will appear if you have been charged with a misdemeanor of over $500 or a jail sentence. Felonies are not heard here. Hiring a San Antonio criminal defense lawyer to defend you can be beneficial in terms of getting your record sealed or expunged. An example of charges in this court is a small dollar theft or misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

In San Antonio, you'll find many lawyers right outside the court house on or around Soledad St. downtown. The right lawyer for you depends on a variety of factors unique to your situation. Remember, some lawyers cost more than others and depending on what type of legal service you need you may not need to spend a large amount of money to secure a high profile criminal lawyer.

If you need to hire an attorney to merely file court documents, it would be wise to hire a lower cost lawyer with a good reputation as here you only need to utilize the lawyer's license to file your papers. This is also an example where legal experience is not a priority. The main concern here is ensuring the lawyer is responsible and will file your court documents. The overwhelming majority of lawyers work vigorously in their client's interest so this should not be a problem.

The district courts have jurisdiction over felony matters. Obviously the stakes are higher here. Common felony charges include DWI, embezzlement, larger drug charges, arson, murder, weapons charges, and other crimes with penalties of over a year in prison. If you have been charged with one of these charges remember that you have the right to an attorney and it is recommended you secure one, either private or a public defender.

A private lawyer comes with certain advantages. First, they usually have more time to work on your individual case file. Secondly, they typically have more experience working with more serious charges. Additionally, some San Antonio Attorneys actually focus their practice primarily towards one type of criminal charge. For example, there are many lawyers in South Texas who concentrate mostly on DWI charges.

You should for a few important qualities in hiring a lawyer to represent you in a felony case. The most crucial is probably experience. A practitioner with 15 or more years experience is likely to have seen every type of situation and logged lots of trial work. This is particularly reassuring as a defendant. Moreover, experience as a former prosecutor is invaluable to defense attorneys because they can call on that experience to strategically anticipate what arguments a prosecutor will make.

Another positive characteristic is if you can find a San Antonio criminal defense lawyer that is board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. This should be a consideration if you decide to appeal a criminal conviction. In Texas, you can first appeal to the Court of Appeals. If you want to appeal again, you will find yourself in the court of criminal appeals which is akin to the Texas Supreme Court in terms of criminal charges.

San Antonio Criminal Defense Lawyer
Criminal Attorney in San Antonio