In addition to competence and trust, a key foundation of legal representation is a personal sense of confidence, similar to choosing a doctor.
Given the potentially severe consequences of criminal proceedings, it is extremely important in criminal law to be fully convinced of your lawyer’s abilities and work, as the stakes are often very high—even life-changing. A conviction in criminal law can result in severe penalties such as a criminal record, significant fines or prison sentences, and serious professional and personal consequences.
Conversely, no other area of law has so many evidentiary and procedural challenges, nor such a broad scope of discretion, considering the wide-ranging potential outcomes in criminal cases: from case dismissal with or without financial conditions, to the written penalty order procedure, to non-initiation of proceedings, conditional warnings, waivers of punishment, acquittals, or prison sentences ranging from a few months to many years—with or without probation.
In other words: Success in criminal law largely depends on choosing the right lawyer.
Changing your lawyer is always possible!
Many clients wonder what to do if they no longer feel 100% confident in their lawyer’s representation, whether due to dissatisfaction with the advice received, the expected case outcome, or even interpersonal issues. Sometimes, clients seek a new lawyer only after an unfavorable court decision, hoping for better representation in an appeal or revision.
Important: Regardless of the reason for dissatisfaction, every client has the absolute right to freely choose their lawyer at any time! Whether you have been represented for just a few hours or several months, you can change lawyers at any time. Since the choice of lawyer is one of the most critical factors for a successful defense—especially in criminal law—you always have the right to immediately terminate your lawyer’s mandate without providing reasons. Simply informing your lawyer that you no longer wish to be represented by them is sufficient. There are no formal requirements for termination, although it is recommended to do so in writing (e.g., via email). The new lawyer will notify the court of the change and can also handle the termination process, saving you the inconvenience of personally dismissing your current lawyer.
Hiring additional lawyers – More lawyers, more success?
Sometimes, clients are satisfied with their current lawyer but wish to seek a second opinion or additional support, for example, by hiring a lawyer with a specific specialization or a more experienced trial lawyer.
Even if the court has already appointed a public defender, a defendant may still hire an additional lawyer (a privately chosen defense attorney).
What many do not know: In criminal law, it is always possible to be represented by more than one lawyer. The law allows up to three freely chosen defense lawyers per defendant, in addition to any court-appointed public defender.
For example, if you already have a lawyer but want to hire an additional specialist for a particular area of criminal law (such as economic or sexual offenses) or retain an experienced trial lawyer (which is especially recommended for an aggressive defense strategy), you can do so without terminating your current lawyer’s mandate.
In cases involving severe penalties and/or high public interest—such as sexual offenses, cases involving pre-trial detention, or financial crimes with significant financial damage—the defendant faces an overwhelming number of opponents, including prosecutors, co-plaintiffs, lay judges, and often biased experts, not to mention media scrutiny. Additionally, in cases where a conviction is handed down by a higher court, there may be no second chance to have the evidence reviewed by a higher judicial body. The pressure on the defendant is immense, and any failure in defense is particularly severe due to the limited appeals options for higher court judgments.
Following the principle “four eyes see more than two,” hiring additional lawyers can help balance the scales against other trial participants. With a defense team, more effective witness cross-examinations become possible (keyword: “cross-examination”). A lying witness will have little time to fabricate responses when questioned alternately by multiple attorneys. A team of specialists also enhances the ability to identify procedural and legal errors by the court, allowing for simultaneous filing of motions, objections to procedural errors, and drafting of legal arguments.
Especially in high-stakes trials before a district court, having multiple attorneys has become an essential success factor in our law firm.
Our law firm is committed to utilizing all legal options in criminal proceedings and developing effective defense strategies that specifically target the typical weaknesses of the justice system.
No other area of law offers as much discretion, given the wide range of legal consequences in criminal proceedings: from case dismissal (with or without financial penalties), to the written penalty order procedure, to non-initiation of proceedings, acquittal, warning, waiver of punishment, or prison sentences ranging from a few months to many years—with or without probation.
The outcome in criminal law heavily depends on the choice of the right lawyer.
Since—just like a doctor—trust in the best possible hands is the most important factor in hiring a lawyer, you can contact us at any time to gain a personal impression of our experience and expertise.
