A criminal defense lawyer is someone who defends criminal offenders. They specialize in representing individuals who are charged with a crime in a lawsuit or criminal prosecution.
The work of criminal defense lawyers revolves around the accused. Before an arrest, your criminal defense lawyer may the one charged in making his Counter-Affidavit to belie the allegations in the complaint. There are also cases when an arrest has already been made and what you see in movies where detainees ask for one phone call. Chances are, the detainee would be calling his preferred criminal defense lawyer.
A criminal defense lawyer may also be provided by the government, they are called "public defenders." Those who cannot afford to hire a lawyer of their own choice may avail of the services of the public defenders. We know for a fact that everyone is presumed innocent until proven otherwise. The lawyer of the accused must see to it that the rights of his client, such as the right to be heard and to present evidence, are not violated. If the accused is pronounced guilty after trial, his lawyer must also ensure that the penalty imposed upon his client is within the period prescribed by law.
