A criminal conviction can have severe implications on your personal and professional life. It could mean thousands of dollars in fines, imprisonment, court fees, and even loss of a professional license. For serious offenses, you could lose voting rights, firearm privileges, and could be sentenced for a lengthy prison term. Are you looking for criminal appeal lawyers in Georgia? Read these tips to choose the right attorney and improve your chances of success:
Values Time
During a criminal conviction, time is of the essence. Maximizing your chances of winning a criminal appeal largely depends on filing the proper paperwork with the appellate court within the given timeframe. For example, the notice of appeal with the appellate court must be filed within 30 days of the judgment made at the original trial court. If the criminal appeal lawyer fails to do so, the court can throw the appeal even before it is heard.
As soon as you contact the appeal lawyer, he or she must respond promptly. As soon as you reach the lawyer or fill out the online contact form on the lawyer’s website, you should expect someone from the lawyer’s team to get back to you quickly.
Experienced
Naturally, the criminal appeal lawyer you choose must be qualified. But experience is also an important consideration. Make sure that the attorney has plenty of experience in handling appellate cases. Your lawyer must understand the nuances that differentiate between trial and appellate courts. The attorney must know the basics of criminal appeals and must be honest enough to explain the possible consequences of losing or winning the appeal. They must also advise about the penalties associated with the charges against you.
Experience also determines confidence. Criminal cases move fast, and a few seconds can make a significant impact on the case. During the initial interview, check the lawyer’s appearance. His or her confidence and experience are often apparent throughout the interview. You must like the way the appeal lawyer presents himself or herself because your lawyer is going to speaking for you.
Understanding When to Appeal
Not all aspects of your case can be appealed. For example, you can only file convictions related to sentencing errors, errors of law, or miscarriage of justice. If the counsel offers ineffective assistance, if the evidence was excluded improperly, or if jury instructions were given incorrectly, you can always file an appeal.
