Benefits of Hiring a Private Attorney vs a Public Defender When accused of a crime, you have three options. You can represent yourself and try and win your case on your own, you can make use of a public defender appointed to you by the courts, or you can secure the representation of an experienced and knowledgeable private attorney. Which option are you going to choose?
Public Defenders Of course, the fact you can have a public defender assigned to you at no charge is a major benefit to your financial situation, but you will soon find that there are great benefits to hiring a private attorney. If you can afford a private attorney, it's recommended you choose this route to secure the most favorable end result. The first thing you need to realize is that a public defender will be court appointed. If you cannot afford your own attorney, this is the only way to secure legal representation to defend you in your case. At the same time, you need to understand that these public defenders are overworked and often overlooked. They literally have hundreds of cases sent their way each year. This means you have no choice in who will defend you, you get the person picked for you. Due the public defender being appointed to you, you have no say whatsoever. Whether you like your public defender or not, they are the ones that are going to work for you to try and secure you a fair and fast resolution. Bear in mind that due to each case being appointed, these defenders have exceptionally heavy caseloads, making it harder for them to provide your case with the care and attention it deserves. Private Defenders If you can afford it, hiring a private defender is by far the top choice. Of course, with a private attorney you choose who you wish to work with. You can choose the firm, the attorney and more based on their success rate in cases similar to the one you have found yourself in. This ensures top notch defense. Remember, while your public defender is overloaded with cases, your private attorney can choose how many cases they manage, which ensures you receive focused attention.