What Can Private Investigators Do for Attorneys?

7 Key Ways Private Investigators Help Attorneys

The main thing private investigators (or PI's) can do for attorneys is to help defend their clients in court, both by finding evidence that could vindicate their client and by gathering information to either corroborate or rebut the evidence presented against them.

Private investigators, who are often better placed to get information from witnesses or even people who are part of the investigation, can also use their skills to help attorneys gather evidence in a myriad of ways.

1. Gathering Evidence

A PI is a person to seek when gathering the facts of a case. They offer a new perspective of a case due to their experience and know what to look for in crime scene photos.

They help prep the witnesses by looking for discrepancies in their statements and how they respond to the questions. Whether it's a criminal proceeding or white-collar, the services of a private investigator are crucial.

2. Finding People

A private investigator can track people, whether it's a witness or people who are missing.

Some witnesses can shed a new perspective on a case and help the lawyer. A defense attorney investigator can focus on the case materials, and based on the photos, reports, and statements, they can find holes in the case and develop new theories.

3. Locating Items

In white-collar crimes or robberies where stolen items are not recovered, private investigators can trace the client's route and determine where they hid the things.

They can access databases to find assets, offshore bank accounts, and items registered to their names like boats, houses, cars, and other assets.

4. Collecting Digital Evidence

A private eye's advanced knowledge of technology can contribute valuable information to a lawyer's case. They can scroll through the persons of interest's social media posts and find details of their whereabouts, time, and associates to help the lawyer's case.

They carry out background checks for all the people involved in a case. This data discovered on social media can help formulate a new theory, motives, and defense strategy for the clients.

5. Supporting Theories

A PI conducts surveillance, reviews and analyzes the evidence, and interviews witnesses to validate a theory. The prosecutor can share the data or by ordering it by a court order. 

6. Investigating the Opponent

Understanding your opponent is a great way to anticipate their moves and keep them off balance. Uncovering their history and patterns can help the lawyer prepare for their following action. 

7. Investigating the Other Party

A lawyer can seek the services of an investigator to research their client's business partners, what they do, and their associates; this helps form the lawyer's perspective of the client and if they can represent them.

The information gathered can also be used for trial strategy in sensitive cases. 

Summary

From divorce cases, family matters, custody cases, fraud, corporate espionage, embezzlement, and criminal cases, private investigators help uncover the truth and help defense attorneys adequately defend their clients.

Since the police and the prosecutor complete cases to try, the defense lawyers need to gather their information themselves for their cases.

Working with private investigators is the fastest way to solve cases. Most famous lawyers and law firms rely on private investigators' skills, wit, and experience.

Law firms hire private investigators as in-house councils and use them for their cases. You need to contact a private investigator for your trial needs.