Devotion to my clients is second nature for me, and drives my path to victory as a Virginia criminal defense lawyer

Devotion to my clients is part of who I am, and fuels my path to victory for clients. I arrived in my role as a Fairfax criminal lawyer successfully defending thousands of people accused of crimes, after decades ago resolving that I would find a way to transition from my work with a corporate lawyer to defending the accused. Helping along that path were the encouraging words of colleagues who encouraged me on this path, the additional resolve I took on this path in response to those who questioned the wisdom of such a transition, and the lessons of selflessness and devotion from my peace teacher and from Ram Dass (born Richard Alpert) who embodied his teacher’s lesson of serving, serving, and keeping on serving, and busting ’em to do that.

What Fairfax criminal lawyer Jon Katz learned from a dentist about being fully devoted to his clients

I cannot come up with the “ah-ha’s” or “eurekas” that are going to bring me closer to victory for my criminal defense clients if I am not totally devoted to them. My devotion to my clients makes even assembling their files with my staff not drudgery, but another essential step towards winning. Many years ago while filling my tooth, a dentist underlined that to make money as a dentist, the dentist needs to know how to work quickly and well. Then, as a lampoon of his comment, no sooner did he finish putting in the last of my filling that he patted me on the shoulder and said “See ya”, departed, and left his hygienist to finish up, the novocaine not having eased my distaste for the dentist’s hasty exit. He at least could have explained that he was going to leave the rest in the hygienist’s capable hands, and that if the hygienist or I needed anything further, that he was but a few yards away. Although the dentist seemed good at his craft, I never returned to him. The energy of his treating me so much as part of his bottom line while he was injecting and drilling me did not give me comfort that he would take good care of me if I started unexpectedly bleeding or coming down with a bad infection after being treated by him.

How do I know that my potential Virginia criminal lawyer has strong devotion to my defense and is not simply after my money?

One day, I met for lunch with a lawyer whom I thought was a good attorney, until he asked in mid-sandwich: “Isn’t our work all about making money?” No way. You can invest in the stock market if you want your work to be all about making money. However, with criminal defense we are dealing with real people and their real lives, and we owe them back fully once they hire us. Furthermore, when lawyers put clients ahead of money, they will earn more money in the long run than doing the opposite. Furthermore, the Virginia Code of Professional Conduct relevantly states that as “advisor, a lawyer provides a client with an informed understanding of the client’s legal rights and obligations and explains their practical implications. As advocate, a lawyer zealously asserts the client’s position under the rules of the adversary system. Aa lawyer provides a client with an informed understanding of the client’s legal rights and obligations and explains their practical implications. As advocate, a lawyer zealously asserts the client’s position under the rules of the adversary system.” Virginia Rules of Professional Conduct If you want to know how much devotion to your case is in the heart of your potential Virginia criminal lawyer, you might start with asking why s/he chose a criminal defense path, how much of the lawyer’s practice is devoted to criminal defense, and why s/he keeps doing criminal defense. For more ideas on what to ask your potential Virginia criminal attorney, see my free guide here and free webinar here.

You will probably know whether or not your potential Virginia criminal lawyer will have full devotion to you and your cause if hired

Defendants ultimately know when a Virginia criminal lawyer lawyer truly cares about and enjoys serving them, or has become burnt out or has never felt a thrill over criminal defense in the first place. Such lawyers might be able to hide their disconnect when first meeting a potential client in their offices, in the quiet away from the battles in the courthouse, but eventually their veneer will show itself. For me, winning necessitates total focus, devotion, and service to my clients.

Fairfax criminal lawyer Jonathan Katz relentlessly pursues your best defense against Virginia DUI, felony and misdemeanor prosecutions. Call  703-383-1100 to schedule your free in-person confidential consultation with Jon Katz about your court-pending case.