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Portland, OR
97204
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WHY AN ATTORNEY?

1. DO CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEYS REPRESENT ONLY CRIMINALS?

A person needn’t be a “criminal” in order to benefit from consulting a criminal defense attorney. Many clients have never previously been in trouble with the law and will never be again. Often, people come to my office because they made a mistake which the law qualifies as a “criminal” offense. Other times people hire me to simply expunge a past criminal record. Still others seek representation because they are under suspicion of committing a criminal act, while in fact, they committed no crime at all.

2. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY AND ANY OTHER ATTORNEY?

In order to perform at a high level of skill and expertise, professionals of all kinds have found it necessary and desirable to specialize. Just as doctors practice as podiatrists and dermatologists, attorneys are more specifically criminal defense lawyers and personal injury lawyers. If you have a foot problem, you do not go to an eye doctor. Likewise, one facing a criminal charge should not consult a personal injury “specialist”. Attorneys have found it advantageous to emphasize certain practice areas. As a patient benefits from the care of a doctor devoted to the study of skin, so does a person facing a criminal charge benefit from the counsel of a criminal defense attorney.

Law school provides a broad legal education. The Bar Exam and other licensing standards are designed to ensure that attorneys meet only general requirements. Attorneys who specialize in the area of criminal defense attend highly specialized training programs sponsored by such organizations as the National Association of the Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.

3. WHEN SHOULD A PERSON CONSULT A CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY?

The ideal time to consult a criminal defense attorney is the moment a person finds himself under legal suspicion, because at that point there is the greatest likelihood of a successful outcome. A person who is suspected of criminal wrongdoing needs crucial information in order to minimize the risk of being formally arrested and brought to court. Prior to charges being filed, there is the maximum possibility that a skilled criminal defense attorney can resolve the situation with minimal adverse consequences to the client.

I have practiced in the area of criminal defense since 1982, both in the trial and appellate courts. I have seen countless instances in which clients benefit from early hiring of experienced legal counsel. I also have seen many situations in which individuals have been harmed by their failure to consult an attorney at an early stage.

For criminal defense attorneys, it is thrilling to fight a case all the way to trial and have our efforts rewarded when the jury announces a verdict of Not Guilty. However, the client benefits even more when early hiring of a skilled and experienced criminal defense attorney results in no charges being filed at all, or where the charges can be resolved at an early stage that spares the client and his family of the humiliation and expense that results whenever a case proceeds through the criminal justice system.

4. HOW DO I ENSURE THAT MY CASE MAINTAINS CONFIDENTIALITY? HOW IMPORTANT IS THIS?

There are few relationships that enjoy the legal protection afforded to the attorney-client relationship. In our legal system, an individual under suspicion of committing a criminal act needs to consult with a professional with assurance of complete confidentiality. Our law does not grant any assurance of this high level of confidentiality between a parent and a child nor to many other relationships often deemed private and considered secure. It is in your best interest to speak to a lawyer when facing criminal charges.

5. A PERSON WHO REPRESENTS HIMSELF HAS A FOOL FOR A CLIENT

Many television programs have courts or lawyers as their theme. From "LA Law" and "NYPD Blue" to "Law and Order" and "The Practice", there seems to be endless fascination with the work of the court system. One unfortunate result is that some people confuse entertainment with real life and somehow get the impression that if they are smart enough, they can handle their own case without an attorney. I have watched many episodes of "ER" but I would not dare perform an emergency appendectomy on myself or a loved one. I am always amazed that anyone would seriously think that a person who is not trained and experienced in the law can represent himself on criminal charges.

In the legal profession, we have a saying: "A person who represents himself has a fool for a client." This is because, no matter how smart a person is, and no matter how experienced in the law that person may be, no one is entirely objective as far as his own case is concerned. Any person facing possible criminal charges needs the service of an attorney who is skilled and experienced in this technical and highly specialized area of practice, and who can bring a professional and objective point of view to the matter at hand. Even though I have practiced as a criminal defense attorney since 1982, if I were facing charges I would enlist a skilled and experienced attorney to defend me.

If you or someone you care about is under suspicion involving potential criminal charges, you can anticipate that you will be facing law enforcement investigators, prosecutors and judges who are knowledgeable about the law. These parties have their own responsibilities toward the legal system and will not be able or willing to put your needs at their highest priority. Whenever a police officer or a lawyer finds himself under suspicion, the first thing they do is hire an attorney. If you face potential criminal charges you should consult a criminal defense attorney immediately.

Read Below For Important Information:

One great benefit to many clients is the ability for a retained attorney to appear in lieu of them at many court proceedings.

Attorneys practice yielding optimum results for clients as a profession. They provide vital information most effective when prescribed earliest. If you do not consult an attorney, you may not be aware of the chance to fight your case though odds seem insurmountable. It is not necessary that a criminal defense attorney prove the accused not guilty! There are many factors involved in a criminal charge apart from whether the accused actually committed the crime. Errors in procedure, only recognizable to an experienced attorney, can lead to the dismissal of charges altogether or significantly minimize penalties. So often, these errors remain unchallenged by clients unaware or who don’t believe they stand a chance and go it alone. At the very root, a defendant must be proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

An attorney has studied the legal system and the law as prescribed by a qualified institution prior to even being eligible to handle one case. Attorneys receive highly specialized education and training even after a four year undergraduate education and even after obtaining a law degree. This training equips them to thoroughly handle cases in our courts. Even after rigorous study, an exam is required to test proficiency in the complexities of law. Yet still, yearly requirements of continued education are monitored throughout a licensed attorney’s career to maintain that when you hire an attorney, a basic standard of competency is ensured.

Attorneys practicing in any area of law have a comprehensive understanding of how to approach the legal system in a skillful way to carry out an objective. Attorneys practice law as a profession, acquiring more skills with experience and variety in cases handled, increasingly yielding quality results for clients. In this era, specialization is commonplace among attorneys. You should consult an attorney who is well-versed and experienced in the specific area of law wherein your case lies. An attorney learns what to do, and as important, what not to do, to secure positive results in the cases they handle. An attorney’s practice thrives or fails based on client satisfaction, a measure of how excellently they handle each case.

The government has the power to take a person's life, liberty or property. Anyone facing such consequences needs an experienced, skilled attorney, who can present a forceful defense. It is my commitment to do so.

Service to Clients: Because I am a sole practitioner, I take personal responsibility for every client I represent. Clients can depend on me being at their side. When appropriate, I can enlist additional support of other professionals including attorneys, forensic scientists and investigators. Available evenings and weekends as necessary.

My Pledge, "To treat every client with Respect and Dignity."