How to Tell if Your Attorney Understands How to Build a Solid Defense
When you hire a criminal defense attorney in Pennsylvania or New Jersey, one of the best ways to determine whether the lawyer truly understands how to build a real defense is by asking whether they work with qualified private investigators. Experienced criminal defense teams—such as Attorney Michael Kotik, Attorney Amato Sanita, and SKA Law Group—routinely rely on investigators to review the facts necessary to challenge the prosecution’s case.
What is Aggressive Criminal Defense?
In most cases, the prosecution provides discovery that reflects their version of events and the evidence that they believe supports probable cause for your arrest. Unfortunately, many lawyers rely solely on this discovery when representing a client. While discovery is important, it is only one side of the story. It is not the full picture.
A true, aggressive criminal defense requires independently gathering evidence that exposes weaknesses in the prosecution’s theory. This is where private investigators become critical. Skilled investigators can interview witnesses, obtain surveillance footage, canvas locations, analyze timelines, locate impeachment material, and uncover inconsistencies that prosecutors either overlooked—or chose not to highlight.
What is the Purpose of Having a Private Investigator as an Attorney?
Often, what a private investigator discovers is very different from what the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or the State of New Jersey claims happened. The prosecution’s job is to build a case. Your defense attorney’s job is to dismantle it. Private investigators give the defense the tools necessary to do exactly that.
Private investigators come in many forms: some work through specialized investigative agencies, while others work directly and exclusively with a criminal defense firm. At SKA Law Group, our team—including Attorney Michael Kotik and Attorney Amato Sanita—utilizes investigators strategically and regularly when building strong defenses for our clients.
If you want to learn more about how private investigators can strengthen your defense, or whether hiring one is necessary in your specific case, contact SKA Law Group. We will review your matter, explain your options, and determine whether an investigator is needed to help build the strongest possible defense on your behalf.