What if I didn’t murder anyone?
It’s okay if you didn’t murder anyone. You’ll notice from this website’s header photo (above) that we have represented lots of people who were charged with murder and other very serious felonies. It’s the more serious charges that end up going to trial most often. That doesn’t mean that we don’t represent people charged with lesser felonies and misdemeanors. We provide criminal representation for all types of crimes.
Judgement free & confidentiality.
We have seen it all. When you come to talk to us, you don’t need to feel like you’re being judged. Being charged with a crime is stressful enough without worrying that the lawyer and office staff are judging you. We understand that good people make mistakes. We also understand that just because someone is charged with a crime–doesn’t mean they’re guilty. Our job is to find the best path forward for you, or your loved one, so that life can be minimally impacted. By the way, your conversation with us is confidential.
What if I’m guilty?
Who cares!? Some people think that a lawyer won’t work hard for them if they’re guilty. Let’s be perfectly clear about this. We don’t care if you’re guilty. First of all, it’s the government’s job to prove guilt. If they can’t prove it–too bad for them. We will attack the case just the same as we would for someone who thinks they’re not guilty of the charges. There are two sides of the story–we want to make sure your side is heard. If at the end of the day, the government has sufficient evidence to prove guilt then we will look for the best resolution to get you through the situation with as little fall out as possible.
What if I’m not guilty?
There are two sides to every story. The government has prosecutors, police, lab technicians, and experts to help them gather evidence against you. We have the same capabilities that the government has to collect evidence and prepare a defense. We will make sure your side of the story is told. Frankly, it’s not altogether uncommon for us to prepare a defense, and present it to the government–and have them think twice about the prosecution as charged.
Speak softly and carry a big stick.
You know the old saying, “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” Attorney Ewing isn’t exactly known for speaking softly in court, but his experience in criminal law is the big stick that you may need. In court, Attorney Ewing is an aggressive advocate for his clients, but with his clients he is friendly and understanding of your needs and concerns–which is one of the reasons that people refer their friends and family members to us.
I’ve been charged, what do I do now?
The first thing you need to do is relax. Being charged with a crime, especially if it’s your first time, can be stressful. People don’t always make good decisions under stress. The court process works one step at a time–and that’s the best approach to take. I can’t tell you how many times we have had people tell us, “I feel so much better now” after they called and spoke with us about their case. We can explain the process and answer your questions. The odds are in your favor that, in the end, everything will be okay.
Do I need a lawyer? Maybe, or maybe not.
Maybe, or maybe not. We can’t count the number of people who have called over the years where we have told the caller they don’t need a lawyer for their type of charge. Some charges are handled by prosecutors and courts in very predictable ways. If that’s the case, we will tell you what the courts are likely to do, so you can decide whether it’s worth the expense.
CPL, CDL, and collateral consequences.
Getting charged with a crime, even a minor one, can have what is called collateral consequences. Collateral consequences is a fancy way of saying that a conviction could cause some other consequence in your life. For example, you might lose your CPL, your CDL could be suspended, and it could affect your employment. We know these pitfalls and will make sure you know about them too.
I’ve never called a lawyer before!
We don’t bite. I mean, we don’t bite people who call for help. If you’ve never called a lawyer before-it might seem scary–but it’s not. As it was mentioned above, most people say they feel a lot better after talking to us. We don’t charge for initial consultations. Just shoot us a call: 810-760-4000.
How much does it cost to hire a lawyer?
It depends on the type of charges, location of the courts, how long the case may take, the complexities of the case, etc. If you’re calling around for prices (which is a pretty common thing to do), you’ll find lawyers quoting all sorts of different amounts for the same case. There is no set amount. Sometimes a lawyer will charge a lot of money for a case because the case is outside their comfort zone, and they charge more to take the case–you’ll also find the opposite may be true. That is, sometimes a lawyer who deals with lots of a particular type of case charges less, because they are familiar with the type of case–and it will be easy for them. Don’t be afraid to ask how much a case will cost.
A note about lawyer fees.
When asking an attorney about how much they charge, be sure to ask: What does your fee cover? Some lawyers charge one fee for district court, a separate fee for circuit court, and an additional fee for trial. Before you make the commitment to hire an attorney–be sure to know what the fee covers. When we are quoting fees, we will tell you up front what the fee covers. You’ll also get it in writing from us.
Criminal law is all we do.
Some lawyers take family law cases, real estate cases, probate cases, personal injury cases, criminal law cases–all handled by the same attorney. We don’t do that. Attorney Ewing only handles on criminal law cases–which makes it so he can focus on the nuances and latest developments in the law.
What if I want a trial?
Good for you! But before we scare everyone with the thought that they may have to go before a jury–we can say that a vast majority of cases never see a jury. Most cases are settled before the trial date ever comes. However, if you want your case to be tried by a jury, you’re in luck–because Attorney Ewing is well known for his trial advocacy. Attorney Ewing has tried lots and lots of cases. He is not afraid of taking a case to trial if that’s what a client wants. You may have seen on television that lawyers try lots of cases, but that isn’t reality. In reality, only a small handful of lawyers actually try cases. If you have a case that needs to be tried–don’t hesitate to ask the attorney how many cases they have tried in the last year. It’s okay to ask about the types of cases they tried, etc. The last thing you want on trial day is a lawyer scared to try the case.
Attorney whisperer.
Attorney Ewing mentors other attorneys on a fairly regular basis. It is not uncommon for Attorney Ewing to get requests from fellow attorneys for meetings, to review their cases, or to answer questions about the law–or how to handle certain case issues. Now, we would never reveal which attorneys we’re helping behind the scenes, but the point is that you know you can count on our experience–when the attorneys do.