FreeAdvice.com is the best law site for consumers, with free answers to legal questions from lawyers, attorneys and experts. Insurance.FreeAdvice.com includes advice about insurance, with auto, homeowners, life, and health insurance policy quotes and company reviews. Criminal Defence Solicitors- Independent Criminal lawyers 0800 015 10. Straightforward expert advice. We fight for you. At most steps in the criminal justice process, the U.S. Constitution guarantees the assistance of an attorney to almost all people who have been charged with a crime. This means that, even if you cannot afford to hire a criminal defense lawyer for yourself or a loved one, the government will provide you with a lawyer free of.

• Free Criminal Law Advice Online
• Free Criminal Law Questions

If you're facing charges, it's important to understand what to expect. By learning some of the basics of, you'll give yourself the best possible chance of a desirable outcome. Criminal law There are two types of laws in the United States, civil and criminal. In both cases, there is a plaintiff who initiates the complaint, and a defendant who defends against the complaint. Some complaints may have both criminal and civil components. In a civil case, the plaintiff, or wronged party, is obligated to show evidence demonstrating that, more likely than not, there was a violation of civil law.

While some civil cases are decided by a jury, most are decided by a judge. Potential penalties in a civil case may include monetary damages or orders from the court to do or stop doing something. In a criminal case, the plaintiff is the government, because crimes are viewed as offenses against the state. The defendant is the person accused of committing the crime. In a criminal case, the prosecution must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, which is a significantly higher burden of proof than in civil cases.

Criminal cases are often decided by juries, and penalties may include monetary damages or time in jail. What are some common criminal defense strategies? In a criminal case, the defendant is guaranteed access to a public defender if they cannot afford one, but a civil defendant must either pay for their own defense attorney or represent themselves. A criminal defense attorney will decide on the best approach based on the specifics of the case. Common criminal defense strategies include:. Arguing that the facts presented by the prosecution are untrue or fail to rise to the burden of proof.

Presenting an alibi which demonstrates the defendant could not have committed the crime because of where they were or what they were doing at the time it was committed. Arguing that police coerced the defendant into committing the criminal act. Arguing that the prosecution did not bring charges within the statute of limitations, or amount of time allowed by law, so the charges must be dropped Federal vs. State crimes For a case to be tried in federal court, it must involve the constitution or a law passed by congress. It must also fall within a relatively narrow jurisdiction, like immigration or copyright lawsuits. Most cases involving private citizens are tried in state court, since state courts have broader jurisdiction.

In many cases, both state and federal laws have been violated, so the plaintiff may choose whether to bring the case before a state or federal court. Misdemeanor crimes While criminal offenses vary greatly in terms of severity, are more serious than. In general, misdemeanors carry potential penalties of monetary fines and/or no more than 1 year in county jail, while the penalty for a felony may be a year or longer in state or federal prison. Non-violent crimes like shoplifting may be prosecuted as misdemeanors, while violent crimes like robbery or arson are felonies. If you're facing civil or criminal charges, hiring a skilled is the best way to ensure you'll be well represented in court.

Don't be afraid to ask questions and make sure you understand your rights throughout the.

Step 1: define your legal issue When you're just getting started, there are a few things to figure out about your legal issue—like, is it a criminal or civil case? Which laws apply—municipal, state, federal?

And, what area of the law represents your issue? Once you have answers to these questions, you can start researching and learning about possible outcomes and next steps.

Is this a true legal issue? First you need to determine whether you have a legal issue or simply a problem. Maybe you don't like your downstairs neighbor playing loud music during the day.

But, if they're not breaking any laws, what you have is a personal matter, not a legal one. A legal problem is one that can be solved by using the law. It's an issue that's addressed within federal, state, or municipal laws and regulations. If you've determined that your problem is a legal one, you might be wondering if you can sue. While in theory you can pretty much sue anyone for anything, the reality is that doing so is often a waste of time and money. It's always a good idea to consult with an attorney to determine whether you can take your suit to court. You might consider mediation or first.

The question should not be “Can I sue?” but “Should I sue?” Consider the following:. Do you have a written contract with the party you want to sue? If you don't have a written contract, do you believe you had a clear agreement, even if it wasn't written down?. Can you demonstrate that the party you want to sue violated their part of the agreement? Can you demonstrate that you held up your end?.

Do you think you have a good chance of winning?. Is this a good use of your time and resources? Weigh the cons, like time, money, and stress against the possible pros, like justice and compensation. It's also worth determining if the party you're sueing has enough money to pay your claim. Is this a criminal matter or a civil matter? There are two main types of legal issues: criminal matters and civil matters.

In criminal cases, the government prosecutes the case. In civil cases, the person bringing the suit hires an attorney to prosecute. If you've been arrested, you're looking at a criminal matter, but depending on the circumstances, it could be a civil matter as well. Civil lawsuits are easier to win because the burden of proof is lower.

And it's not necessarily one or the other. There can be a criminal case and a civil case for the same matter. If you're considering whether or not to sue someone, or you have been sued, you're looking at a civil matter. There are two main types of legal issues: criminal matters and civil matters. What about municipal, state, and federal laws? Federal, state, and local governments each have their own sets of laws.

Your legal issue will likely fall under one of these three categories. Depending on your issue, you may want to research all three. For any legal issue, make sure you do it in the correct court and consult with an attorney to figure out which court to file in. What practice area does it fall under?

The best way to research your legal issue is to start by identifying the broad category that it falls under. You may have noticed that lawyers almost always associate themselves with “practice areas.” These are the areas they have particular experience and knowledge in. Common practice areas include, but are not limited to, corporate law, criminal law, estate planning, employment law, personal injury, and business law. You probably wouldn't want to talk to a heart surgeon about a sprained ankle, and similarly, you probably don't want an attorney in criminal law to handle a divorce. Finding the most relevant practice area can be tricky. For instance, you know that your issue is about medical malpractice, but you may not know that it falls under the category of personal injury law.

Or maybe you're in the middle of a situation—like, you've asked your landlord to add a disabled parking spot outside your building, and your landlord has refused. You could be looking into three separate topics: tenant/landlord laws, discrimination, and civil rights. If you still aren’t sure how to categorize your issue, you can about it or on Avvo’s free Q&A forum. Step 2: research your legal issue Once you've defined your legal issue, you can start researching online. It's helpful to begin by breaking down all the facts—this process will help you identify some important keywords that you can use to kick off your research. What are the facts? When researching a legal issue, many attorneys get to the facts of the case by using a common legal research method called TARP, which stands for thing, cause of action, relief sought, person/parties involved.

You can do the same. P Person/Parties Involved. Start with the thing. What's the subject matter?

It could be one thing, for example—a divorce. Or it could be a couple things like divorce plus child custody. Then look at the cause of action.

That is, how were you wronged under the law? This may be an issue like,. Next is relief sought. Relief could be monetary compensation for covering costs associated with the issue or for pain and suffering. Or it could be to prevent the defendant from engaging in certain behavior again. Finally, person/parties involved. Who are the players?

What are their roles? What are their relationships to each other? For example: employer-employee; father-son; or neighbor-neighbor.

Free Criminal Law Advice Online

Now that you know what kind of issue you have, what category it falls under, and what the basic facts are, you're ready to begin solving your legal puzzle. How do I research my legal issue online? Here are step-by-step instructions to researching online.

Start with. You'll find plenty of free legal advice in Avvo's guides with information on over 1,000 legal topics and over 7 million questions and answers.

Just remember that laws can vary significantly from state to state. When researching online, don't rely on information about another state's laws, as it may not be relevant to your situation. Look up your local court system. Simply search Google for “your city court.” This is often the place to get information on traffic court and family court in your area. You can also get info on state and federal courts. Learn more from your local Bar association. Search Google for your state or county Bar association.

The association's website will often have resources for the public. Dig into the laws themselves. The has laws organized by location and topic, plus online legal advice to help you interpret them. Also try searching “your state laws,” as your state will have local resources. If you get stuck, you can quickly check with an attorney to explain what you've found. Step 3: resolve your issue Resolution can come in many forms—after doing your research, you may decide to handle it yourself or decide that it's not worth pursuing.

Or, you may seek additional clarification or legal advice before making a move. Or, you may be convinced that you need to hire a lawyer right away.

The main thing to know is that you have options. Can I do it myself? If you want to do it yourself (DIY), it's your right to be your own representative in legal matters. This is called pro se legal representation, from the Latin meaning “for oneself.” It's fairly common in uncontested divorces and in small claims courts (especially in states that prohibit lawyers in small claims court).

In certain matters, attorneys are required by law, whether you want one or not. In most cases, it's a good idea to get some input from a lawyer regardless. The fact is, you don't know what you don't know, and that's ok. Speaking with an attorney—even just for a quick consultation—could give you insight into how to move forward and peace of mind.

Free Criminal Law Questions

If you want to forge ahead and handle your legal issue yourself, do your research and come up with a plan. If you want to talk to an attorney, some offer free consultations, but these sessions are usually used as a way to get to know each other and talk about whether you have a case.

If you want quick legal advice, you can always get on the phone with a lawyer with —it's a 15-minute conversation with a lawyer for $39. If I hire a lawyer, what can I expect? When you hire a lawyer, you're hiring someone to represent you. Depending on your issue, your lawyer may represent you in litigation (in court) or in mediation/arbitration proceedings. Or they may create, review, process, or file documents. Even more importantly, your lawyer will give you advice, proactively work for your interests, and anticipate problems that you may not see coming.

Many attorneys provide free consultations to new clients to see if there's a good fit between need and expertise. When you decide to hire an attorney, do your due diligence and take a look. This may all sound overwhelming, but with a little work you'll have a better understanding of what to do and how to take action. You've got this!