How To Hire The Best Criminal Defense Attorney For Your Sexual Assault Case In Oakland County, MI

In this article, you can discover…

• The qualifications to seek out when hiring a criminal defense attorney.
• The importance of clear and frequent communication with your attorney.
• How an attorney can help you decide whether to accept a plea deal or head to trial.

What Qualifications Should I Look For When Hiring A Criminal Defense Attorney?

The most important qualification to look for is experience in the specific type of case you are faced with. You should be looking for a lawyer with experience in both criminal defense and sexual assault cases in Oakland County, MI.

Sexual assault cases differ from other criminal cases. Unlike most criminal charges, the majority of regular people can picture themselves or a loved one involved in a sexual assault case either as an accuser or as an accused. While people struggle to even imagine being accused of carjacking (or being carjacked), they can easily see the potential of their son or daughter being involved in a sexual assault when they send them away to college.

Since there is an overwhelming amount of pent-up emotions involved in sexual assault cases, it is important to work with an attorney who has a great deal of experience in defending accusations of sexual assault and sex crimes. Whether or not your lawyer is familiar with the dynamics of your case can greatly impact the outcome, so be sure you hire a criminal defense attorney who is qualified to defend you.

Finally and most importantly, you must respect the lawyer you are hiring, as they will be providing you with a lot of information. Your case will inherently involve hearing news and advice that you will not be happy about, you must respect your lawyer enough to trust that person as the source of that information. That is a good first step toward making the process less stressful and more palatable.

What Questions Will I Be Asked During An Initial Consultation?

Primarily, you will be asked to provide a general summary of the accusations made against you. This will include a general timeframe of events, as well as a list of involved parties, possible witnesses, and potential evidence surrounding the case. Therefore, you should be prepared to provide an accurate account of what happened during the time period in question, and discuss your thoughts and ideas for answering the allegations with your attorney.

How Will You Communicate With Me To Keep Me Updated On The Status Of My Case?

I feel that some clients wish I was a little more tempered, and not share as much information as I do share with them. However, my style of communication is to be brutally honest and fully transparent with clients. I believe that my clients are entitled to all of the information about their case, so I never want to misstate anything. Of course, my advice about the facts and the case is expected and important as well. But it is important to me that my clients also receive all of the raw, unfiltered data and information pertaining to their case, without my “filter” and analysis, in addition to my interpretation and advice about that information.

Attorney Mark Satawa is a seasoned lawyer based in Oakland County, MI who has helped countless clients just like you navigate the intricacies of sexual assault defense law. With over three decades of legal experience, he is prepared to assist you in making the right choices to protect yourself so that you can focus on your future with a clear head.

Still have questions? Ready to get started? Contact Satawa Law today to schedule an initial consultation

My practice is very client-centric, meaning that I put a great deal of time and energy into educating my clients and helping them make intelligent decisions about their case. When you approach me to handle your case, I will make sure that you receive any and all relevant information as soon as possible. In order for you to be able to make well-informed decisions, it is important for me to remain in consistent contact with clients whenever I receive new information.

Typically, I keep clients updated through a case management platform using emails, phone calls, messaging, and meetings (both virtual/zoom and in person). I believe that each client deserves to fully informed about all aspects of their case, and to feel that they are in control of the decisions that they make. So I make it my priority to ensure that you are properly educated and prepared to navigate your case with confidence.

How Can You Help Me Decide Whether To Go To Trial Or Accept A Plea Deal?

I believe this is ultimately 100% the client’s decision to make, so I will make sure that you are properly prepared to make that decision. No one is more qualified than you, the client, to make the decision on whether to accept a plea bargain, or reject it and proceed to trial.

Every trial vs. plea bargain decision includes risk. There is a very real risk associated with taking a plea bargain and admitting to doing something that you did not do, and when you are innocent of the allegations and just looking to mitigate damage. At the same time, there is obviously a risk of pleading not guilty and taking a case to trial. So, while proceeding to trial comes with the potential reward of winning your case and being vindicated, there is also the risk of a conviction, which result in incarceration (county jail or a lengthy state prison term), and place you on the sex offender registry for a minimum of 15 or 25 years, or even life.

For these reasons, it is important that your attorney educates you on the potential risks and rewards associated with the decision to either take a plea deal or go to trial. This way, you will be prepared to make a decision based on what you think will be most beneficial for your situation, not based on what you think your lawyer wants you to do.

Can I Prevent My Charges From Going Public?

Not exactly. I have worked for a number of high-profile clients, and I do not seek personal publicity because I respect their privacy. Therefore, I do not personally try to generate media attention around my cases, but there is no real way to prevent charges from going public if the media takes an interest.

In the age that we currently live in, the internet makes it easy for social media and news sources to spread information at a rapid, uncontrollable pace. There are many avenues for potential sexual assault allegations to become public, so there is no practical way to prevent this. However, it is best to be careful and avoid drawing any unwanted attention to your case.

What Do You Think Is The Most Important Quality To Look For When Hiring A Criminal Defense Attorney For My Sexual Assault Accusation?

Much like hiring an attorney for any case, the most important qualification to look for is a wealth of experience with the exact, specific type of case you are facing. There is no substitute for an attorney with years of experience and expertise in handling not just criminal cases, but specifically with sexual assault allegations. This experience should be a prerequisite requirement for a lawyer to properly handle your accusations.

Secondly, you will want to work with an attorney who is passionate, tenacious, and will fight for your rights. A lawyer who refuses to quit will prove to be a valuable asset in defending against your allegations, especially during the uncertain or unsettling moments that will unfold during the legal process.

You will want to be sure that your attorney has your back no matter what and will fight with conviction through the entirety of your case. These qualities are paramount to consider when making the decision to hire an attorney for your case.

Do You Need More Assistance? Are You Ready To Get Started?

If you are ready to discuss your case further with a Sexual Assault Defense Attorney In Oakland County, MI, a free initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (248) 356-8320 today.