You didn’t expect to be accused of a crime. When you were, you thought the case would be resolved quickly because the reality was that you weren’t guilty. That didn’t happen.

If you know that your case is going to go to trial because it has not been settled outside of court, your attorney should be starting to prepare you for that trial now.

In any criminal trial, the goal is to prove beyond reasonable doubt that you are or are not guilty of a crime. The prosecution will be aiming to show that you did commit a crime, and it will work to convince the judge, or judge and jury of that.

On your side, your criminal defense attorney will be working to reduce the potential penalties you could face if convicted at the same time as trying to reduce the likelihood of a conviction.

Both sides will present arguments to the court, and the jury will need to determine the outcome.

To prepare for court, you need guidance.

It’s necessary for you to be prepared for court appropriately. Since you’ve never been through this kind of system before, your attorney should go over a few different topics with you, such as possible plea deals that would allow you to settle the case outside of court, how to act or dress in court and what to expect from the prosecution.

You may have to take the stand during your trial. If that’s the case, your attorney will talk to you about how to present yourself and how you should answer those questions. You do not have to say or do anything that would incriminate you in court, but you also cannot lie. Fortunately, attorneys understand how to approach cases like yours and will be able to discuss how you can improve the likelihood of the case moving in your favor, such as coming to court dressed appropriately, being on time, using polite language and avoiding inappropriate gestures or emotions in court.

You deserve an opportunity to defend yourself against the charges.

If you’re accused of a crime, you need to get ready for the possibility of a criminal trial. A strong defense will help you protect your best interests.