So much is demanded from criminal lawyers Melbourne who put their reputation on the line each and every week. Even when evidence runs to the contrary, they are in a position to ensure that their client’s interests are represented in a court of law.

However, for all the demands that are heaped onto these professionals and these law firms, there are actually some responsibilities that rest on the shoulder of the client.

This might not always be easy to hear and given the nature of the circumstances, there is little leeway given to the need to be a professional client. That imperative always seems to shift to the legal representative, but the truth of the matter is a winning case relies on more than a solicitor to tick the boxes and achieve the benchmarks that have been laid out in the war room.

A winning strategy requires both participants and instigators to coordinate their efforts and ensure that the opposition, whether that be the prosecution or defence, has an argument that is less compelling.

So here we will illustrate what is required from you – the client. If you follow through on these requirements, your solicitor will thank you.

Patience

Criminal lawyers in Melbourne need time for the wheels of justice to be turning in your direction. From filing for motions to scheduling hearings, speaking with witnesses and attending consultations, there is a myriad of work that has to be carried out behind the scenes. Rather than badgering a solicitor about developments every day or every few hours in extreme cases, you must be willing to acknowledge that you are on a ‘need to know’ basis and respect those parameters.

100% Transparency

Criminal lawyers in Melbourne are only as good as the information you provide them. Withholding information is not only a poor strategy that runs contrary to the attorney-client privilege provisions, but they eliminate loopholes and opportunities for your representative to argue your case with an understanding of the facts. Remember that the opposition might not be completely aware of every detail, so arming your solicitor with information can really improve the final decision.

Consistent Communication

From being patient with the dialogue and communication to offering up all of the facts, there is another facet of the relationship that criminal lawyers in Melbourne need from you as a client. That is to turn up to scheduled consultations, to answer calls and emails, and to generally be available to offer feedback, thoughts and respond to questions. The framework to develop a case can only be made by a willing participant who can assist the solicitor in guiding the narrative. That requires the client to be present when called upon, something that does not occur for clients that leave all of the heavy lifting to their representative.

Trust and Commitment

A final requirement that all criminal lawyers in Melbourne will desire from you is a genuine intangible, and something that might receive a strong degree of cynicism. This is in relation to trust and commitment, two words that are rarely associated with the legal field. Should you display anything resembling these two qualities to your lawyer, they will feel emboldened and empowered to proceed with their investigation of a case in the knowledge they won’t be fired or removed from their post. Solicitors who are made to feel as though their services are in jeopardy will be less inclined to commit to their tasks, a fact that is simply human nature.

Summary

Now that you know what criminal lawyers in Melbourne want from their clients, you can tick these boxes for them to ensure they are positioned to win your case. Lawyers that have perfect clients also loose any upper hand in an argument because you are able to showcase professionalism and diligence at every turn, something you should demand from your solicitor.