Aside from the obvious benefit of a reduced sentence, there are a number of benefits to accepting a plea bargain. Plea bargains often pose advantages to both sides, both the defense and prosecution. Time, money, and hassle are saved for both sides of the legal process. There are also several benefits the defendant should keep in mind when considering a plea bargain.
Faster Outcome
A criminal trial can be a long, expensive, and emotionally traumatic experience for a defendant. Plea bargains allow you to skip the extensive trial procedure and move right into the sentencing phase before a judge. You will know the outcome of the conviction much sooner than if you had to go through an entire trial, without needing to pay attorneys’ bills throughout the trial process.
Leave Jail
Defendants unable to get out on bail, whether bail was denied or is too expensive, will most likely need to stay in jail for the duration of the trial before being released or transferred to a prison. Once a plea is entered and accepted, you will be sentenced and moved out of the jail. Leaving jail could mean going home or starting a sentence in a prison. While prison may not seem like a good place to be, they are almost always better than jail.
Lesser Charges
A plea bargain often involves pleading guilty to offenses less serious than those you were charged with initially. The prosecution will reduce the charges, or remove some altogether, as a way of making the plea agreement more attractive to the defendant and increasing the chances of a fast conviction.
This is an especially important benefit of accepting a plea bargain if you are being charged with crimes that can be personally, socially, or professionally damaging. A lesser related offense can keep you from needing to continue feeling the negative effects of a conviction even after you have paid your debt to society.
Shorter Sentence
A plea bargain that results in you entering a guilty plea to lesser charges can also result in a shorter sentence. Not only are the required minimum sentences shorter for less serious crimes, many judges are more likely to show leniency to a defendant willing to accept responsibility and avoid a lengthy trial. A plea bargain can help you reduce the time you will need to serve.
The benefits of accepting a plea bargain affect your life in both the short and long terms. By accepting a plea bargain you can avoid the embarrassment of a trial and potentially shorter the sentence you will receive. Always consult with a lawyer before accepting a plea agreement.
Mike often writes articles to help explain the confusing criminal justice system. While he tries his best to explain the laws, he believes that hiring a criminal defense attorney is still the best way to go if in legal trouble.
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If you are thinking about starting a career and becoming a solicitor, you should first ask yourself what does a solicitor actually do. Many people will jump into a role without actually having a full understanding of what it is. If you already have an interest in solicitors and a slight idea what they do, you should read on to get a clearer idea. Once you have a clear idea of the role of a solicitor, you may be ready to decide whether you actually want to go into this type of career.
Your Role as a Solicitor
Your role as solicitor will be to protect your client’s rights. You will have a client come to you with a problem; you will then have to offer your client some legal advice. Depending on the situation and the problem, you client may choose or have to go to court, if this is the case then you as your clients lawyer will have to present their case to the judge.
Legal Services
A solicitor can offer you a range of legal services. If you want to specialise in particular sector of law, it is important that you are trained to do so otherwise you may be a solicitor that has to work on broad terms. Here is a list of the different legal services solicitors can offer:
- Employment Lawyer : An employment lawyer will protect the rights of both the employer and the employee.
- Personal Injury Lawyer : A personal injury lawyer will present your case if you have been injured because of someone else’s negligence.
- Legal Aid Lawyer : If you have any legal issues, you will need to hire legal aid lawyer.
- Family Lawyer : A family lawyer will look after issues within the family, such as divorce.
- Wills and Probates Lawyer : If there is a death in your immediate family, you may need to hire a wills lawyer to sort out any finances.
- Immigration Lawyer : An immigration lawyer will present your case if you believe you have the rights to stay in a country.
If a particular sector of this law interests you, you should do a bit more research into it. It is essential that you do plenty of research so that you can decide what the best role is for you.
How to Train To Become a Solicitor
Once you have decided what you actually want to do, it is now time to get your qualifications. Gaining a qualification to become a solicitor can be quite difficult; this is because there is so much competition to be a solicitor. The quickest way to get your qualification is to go through university. To make things a little easier when you finish university, you should try and obtain as much work experience as possible.
Choosing a Law Firm
Once you have your qualification you will then have to choose a law firm you would like to work for. If you are still not sure what part of law you would like to specialise in, you will be better off choosing a law firm that offers a variety of different services.
Laura is a family lawyer from Brighton, she loves to share advice and tips with others. She works for www.lynnepassmore.com that specialises in family law.
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