05 Dec Not receiving proper representation may be grounds for appeal

On behalf of Jack B. Rubin, PA posted in Criminal Appeals on Saturday, December 5, 2015.

Being charged with a crime is a daunting experience for anyone to endure, and the more serious the charges, the steeper the potential penalties. But fortunately, you do not have to take on the judicial system by yourself.

The law entitles you to have an attorney to act as your representative and provide you with the information you need to make sound decisions regarding the manner in which you pursue your best possible outcome.

It is incumbent upon an attorney to look out for his or her client’s best interests and typically, they make every effort to do so. Unfortunately, sometimes an attorney is simply not capable of providing a client with competent representation.

But if you are not an attorney yourself, how can you tell if your attorney is doing a good enough job working on your behalf? Well, your attorney may not be providing you with effective counsel if he or she does any of the following:

• Misses deadlines for filing legal notices.
• Behaves in a manner that may be considered unprofessional.
• Does not take your wishes into account when working on your case.
• Makes important legal decisions on your behalf without properly informing you.

If you have been charged with a crime, it is possible that your future will depend on your attorney’s ability to properly represent your legal interests. Your cause is not served well by having irresponsible or incompetent counsel.

But you do not have to simply endure the mistakes your attorney makes. If you are convicted of a crime, but you can demonstrate that you did not have adequate counsel, you may be able to have the original verdict overturned in a court of appeals. In fact, the signs we listed in this post could be grounds for an appeal.

If you believe that you were unable to get a fair trial due to the shortcomings of your original counsel, you may wish to contact a Maryland appeals attorney. Having an attorney, who really understands how to work with clients and in the court system, may help correct your situation.