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Public Defender Vs. Private Attorney: Which is Best For You?

Public Defender Vs. Private Attorney: Which is Best For You?

Public Defender Vs. Private Attorney:  Which is Best For You?

Have you or a loved one recently been arrested for a crime that you were caught participating in?  Right after you are arrested, you will immediately be focused on two things.  The first one will be securing bail bonds in Orlando so that you can quickly be released from prison.  The second one will be acquiring the right representation for your case.  If you have recently been arrested, you will need to go through a series of hearings that begins with your arraignment.  At this time, you will have the opportunity to gain representation in the form of an attorney so that you know your rights and have fair treatment from the system.  Many people choose to pay for their own private attorneys if they have the financial means to do so, while others choose to use the public defender that is assigned to their case at the arraignment.  No matter what, you will be offered representation.  Choosing which one is best for you is up to you.  Let's take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of using public defenders vs. private attorneys when you are in need of this service.

Public Defenders are Free

Perhaps one of the biggest advantages of using a public defender is that they are free.  These are the individuals that are assigned to your case by the court.  The court will provide you with one whenever you request the court to do so or when you can't afford your own private attorney.  The cost of their services will be paid by a government agency, depending on whether you will be in federal or state court.  

Public Defenders Have Much Experience

Because public defenders are government employees, they are typically given a lot of cases.  This is both an advantage and a disadvantage.  Because they have a lot of cases on their workload, they will offer more expertise and experience with cases like yours.  This can work in your favor when they are defending you, as they will know what to predict and how to react.  There will be no surprises.  However, this could work against you because this means that their plates are full.  Balancing a lot of cases means that you may be dealing with other members of their team instead of them directly.  You'll have to consider this when you make your choice.

Public Defenders May Be Overworked

Because of their inability to choose their workload, they may actually become overworked very easily.  This is a risk you'll take when you choose to use a public defender as your representation.  It may be impossible to tell the workload of your public defender before you choose them, so this is just something that you'll need to consider when it comes time for you to make your choice.  Like most other things, their workload will ebb and flow, so you may actually catch them with they have a lot of time to devote to your case.   

Public Defenders Want to Help People

Many people choose to become public defenders because they simply want to help people.  The money doesn't matter to them as much as the good deed that they are providing.  This is beneficial because they are working harder when they love what they do, which is to defend clients like you.  This is more of a work of heart than it is a job, so they will defend you with passion and diligence.

Private Attorneys Have Many Resources

Because of the ability to charge clients, private attorneys have access to many different resources that public defenders may not.  This includes investigators and consultants that can assist them in the legal process.  This may provide them with more access to work with more people, like private detectives, professionals in bail bonds in Orlando, and jury consultants to find out as much information about the case as possible.  This could give you an advantage when you are defending your position in court.

Private Attorneys Control Their Workload

While some public defenders may become overworked by their caseload, private attorneys have the opportunity to choose the work they accept.  They can minimize their work load in order to focus on each case, and they can choose the types of cases they work with.  This allows them to have more specialized attention to each case and have more experience with particular cases.  You'll be able to find a private attorney that has specific experience with your type of case in order to ensure the best representation possible.

Private Attorneys Are Expensive

On the flip side of the free cost of a public defender, a private attorney's main disadvantage is their expensive cost.  Attorney fees can easily add up, especially if you have a time-consuming and complex criminal case.  Private attorneys may charge an hourly rate, an upfront retainer fee, or a flat fee, so you'll want to be sure to ask about payments before you choose their services to avoid surprises.

Private Attorneys Have Good Reputations

Because they need to compete with public defenders in order to get business, private attorneys often need to have great reputations in order to keep business flowing.  If they struggle to maintain a good reputation in their community, they will also struggle to get clients.  Their jobs may range from getting their clients out of jail, securing them bail bonds in Orlando, and getting them the shortest sentence possible.  The better they do their job, the better their reputation will be.   This separates them from public defenders.


These are the main differences between public defenders and private attorneys that can help you through the legal process after you have been arrested.  Whether you are looking for quality representation or you are looking for the right bail bonds in Orlando, your goal will likely be to spend the least amount of time in jail as possible.  Contact our bail bondsmen to hear about how we can help you get out of jail sooner today.