Every profession has its own language, and the legal field is no exception. Whether it's corporate law, estate planning, contract law, or criminal defense, each area of the law uses specific terminology for concepts, procedures, and policies. For people who don't practice law on a daily basis, these unfamiliar terms can cause confusion and anxiety.
When you hire a criminal lawyer, you are of course relying on that person's experience and expertise to provide you with an effective defense. But you are also relying on her to explain the legal process to you in comprehensible language. And even the most basic of items can be given a name that causes confusion to someone not familiar with the legal system.
One example is what is called "discovery." You might hear your attorney say, "I received the discovery from the DA's office and need you to review it." What does this mean?
In general terms, discovery refers to the documents pertaining to a case. In criminal cases, discovery can include police reports, audio and video recordings, laboratory reports, warrants, probation reports, and records of past criminal activity, if any.
One of your rights as a defendant is to receive copies of all discovery documents from the DA so that you are aware of the evidence against you. It's critical that you review the discovery with your attorney to build the best defense possible.
