If you believe what you see in the movies, then a top criminal defense lawyer looks like Tom Cruise, talks like Matthew McConaughey, and dresses like Denzel Washington. But this isn’t exactly how things play out in the real world (that is, unless you know this Houston DWI lawyer).
Let’s take a quick look at the 4 facets of real-life criminal defense lawyers.
What does a criminal defense lawyer do?
It’s a good question. What does a criminal defense lawyer do? And luckily, it’s a pretty simple one to answer.
A top criminal defense lawyer represents anyone charged with a crime. This crime can be anything really, and they can range in severity — from shoplifting all the way to murder. A criminal defense attorney can be appointed by the court or hired by the defendant.
A criminal defense lawyer works with the defendant to reduce/eliminate charges or to earn them a less severe sentence. To do this, they’ll find witnesses, strike deals with the court, uncover evidence, file paperwork, try the case in court (What is a trial lawyer?), and more.
Why do you need a criminal defense attorney?
Anytime you’re faced with serious jail time, fines, or other legal repercussions, it’s wise to contact a criminal defense attorney. Not only can a criminal defense attorney help reduce your sentence, but they can also speed up the process, ensure your case is handled properly, and help guarantee you’re treated fairly.
In some cases, a top criminal defense attorney (not a cheap criminal lawyer in Houston who’ll just waste your money) might even be able to prevent charges from ever being filed in the first place. If that interests you, check out these additional pages:
- Everything you need to know about how to expunge your criminal record in Texas
- The top 4 advantages of hiring a small law firm
- Understanding how the Texas criminal statute of limitations works
- Penalties for intoxication manslaughter in Texas
What is a Super Lawyer?
If you’re looking for a top criminal defense lawyer, then odds are you want them to be good at what they do. An easy way to find a top-rated Houston criminal defense attorney is to look for one on Superlawyers.com. This website rates lawyers in 70 different practice areas. And these aren’t just any lawyers — these are lawyers who have “attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.” No more than 5% of lawyers from each state are recognized.
Mark Thiessen was first selected as a Rising Star for Super Lawyers in 2010, a position he held until 2013, when he became a Super Lawyer proper. Not only has Mark remained a Super Lawyer ever since, but he also made the Top 100 list as a Houston Super Lawyer since 2017 and is proud to announce his designation as a Top 100 Texas Super Lawyer for 2019.
Mark will be one of only 5 criminal attorneys in Houston (and the only DWI attorney) to win this designation this year in Houston, and is the only criminal attorney/DWI attorney to make the Texas 2019 list of Super Lawyers.
For more information, discover what makes a Super Lawyer and learn to recognize the signs of a bad lawyer in the process.
What areas do criminal lawyers practice?
Wondering what the criminal lawyer practice areas are? You’re not alone. Many people ask this same question. But simply put, criminal lawyers defend individuals who have been charged with committing an act against society. This can expand to cover a variety of acts, but here’s a quick list of a few heavy hitters:
- DWI
- DWI Intoxication Assault
- DWI Intoxication Manslaughter
- Theft
- Assault
- Arson
- Marijuana charges
- Drug crimes
- Murder & manslaughter
- Theft
- Weapons charges
Looking for a Houston criminal defense attorney?
Then look no further. Thiessen Law Firm is an experienced Houston criminal defense law firm, and Triple Board-Certified criminal defense attorney Mark Thiessen has been recognized as a Super Lawyer since 2013. From intoxication manslaughter to unlawful restraint, DWI, and more, Mark Thiessen has turned many challenging cases into major success stories.
Get aggressive defense in your corner. Call (713)-864-9000 to contact our team of experts now for a free consultation and start your case off on the right foot.
Related Resources:
- Interesting Marijuana Facts
- DWIs and Your Profession
- DWI Entrapment Examples
- Determining Fault by Location of Damage
- Intoxication Manslaughter Penalties
