Utah defense lawyers frequently meet people on the worst days of their lives. A prospective client wants to hear good news, and we really want to give it. However, despite the temptation, I try not to get a client’s hopes up. It would be easy to tell them that if they just hire me everything will come out perfectly, but I don’t think that’s fair.

Unfortunately, the Utah criminal justice system is stacked against defendants. The punishments for crimes continue to skyrocket, with the average sentence for most crimes being two to four times what they were back in the 60s, and everything is illegal now. Judges throughout Utah frequently forsake their duty to be neutral and consistently favor the prosecution; prosecutors forsake their duty to seek justice and focus on winning at all cost; and Utah jurors tend to think a defendant is guilty just by virtue of the fact he is on trial, without hearing the evidence.

Which is not to say that beating a criminal charge is impossible to do in the state of Utah. The truth is, I think I’m a great lawyer. I love going to trial, and love being more prepared for my case than the prosecution. Defense lawyers that promise you the moon may not have the time or energy to devote to your case, but I never take more cases than I can handle. If you hire a defense lawyer who promises you too much, she’s probably promising her other clients too much as well and won’t have the time to devote to your case. You want a lawyer who will be realistic in his time management.

You also want a lawyer who remembers that the job of a defense lawyer is to get the best outcome possible for your case. While that could be working towards getting you a “not guilty” verdict in a trial, it could also involve accepting a plea offer that avoids jail time. You want a lawyer who will realistically appraise your case and give you honest advice. Some lawyers let their emotions get the best of them and they become focused on beating the prosecution instead of doing what is best for their client. A level-headed, compassionate lawyer is going to get you the best possible outcome for your criminal case.

I am a compassionate, pragmatic lawyer. For a level-headed criminal lawyer in the state of Utah, contact me today.