Government passes laws to protect the freedom of its citizens, which can be infringed upon because of actions by other people. If you are wronged, you have the right to bring a civil case against someone. Filing a lawsuit, or defending one, requires a certain kind of attorney depending on the matter in question.

Criminal cases, however, present a different challenge for those charged. Whereas civil cases are about remediation of property, criminal cases can carry severe penalties - such as jail time. For this reason, you need the help of an expert criminal lawyer to defend against heavy fines or imprisonment.

You should be very particular about which criminal lawyer you choose to defend you and represent you in court. A good place to start is by browsing through the websites of local criminal defense lawyers that practice in your area. You should also evaluate each lawyer’s reputation and experience in their particular specialty before you decide on any attorney.

You should be confident in your lawyer's ability to defend you; this plays a major role in winning a case. In addition, understand the laws that grant confidentiality to things you share with your lawyer. After making sure that you understand attorney–client privilege, be open with your lawyer once it has been established. Defending your reputation is best done in court, be forthcoming with your attorney about all details when preparing your defense.