As people’s legal awareness grows, more and more individuals and their families are becoming aware of the need to hire a lawyer when facing criminal cases. II. Criminal Defense Lawyers: A lawyer cannot determine the outcome of a case. (1) Legal defense isn’t about turning black into white—hiring a lawyer doesn’t mean paying to guarantee a predetermined result. If a lawyer ignores facts and legal principles, the investigating authorities simply won’t accept their arguments. Instead, an experienced lawyer will diligently identify grounds for innocence, reduced charges, or mitigating factors that could lead to lighter or even免除 (exemption from) criminal liability—and present them at the right time and in the proper manner. However, if a lawyer genuinely lacks compelling reasons to secure acquittal, lighter sentencing, mitigation, or exemption from criminal responsibility, then "even a skilled cook can’t make a meal without rice." (2) The fact that a lawyer can’t control the case’s outcome doesn’t mean their expertise is unnecessary. Investigative authorities base their decisions on facts and the law, and lawyers, in turn, offer their professional opinions grounded in the same principles. Does this imply there’s no need to hire a lawyer? On the contrary, experience has shown that, due to overwhelming caseloads and various other internal and external factors, it’s simply impossible for authorities to scrutinize every detail thoroughly in each case. Professional legal representation helps ensure that the truth is accurately established and that laws favorable to the client are applied correctly—ultimately paving the way for outcomes that protect the client’s rights and prevent wrongful convictions, miscarriages of justice, or unfair penalties. However, it’s not entirely clear what role criminal defense lawyers play in criminal cases—or how exactly they do it—and some people even seem to have misconceptions about it. So, what exactly is the purpose of a lawyer in a criminal case?

　　According to relevant regulations, the role of a criminal defense attorney is to present evidence and opinions—based on facts and the law—that demonstrate the suspect or defendant’s innocence, argue for minor offenses, or seek mitigation or exemption from criminal liability, thereby safeguarding the suspect or defendant’s procedural rights and other legitimate interests. In essence, the responsibility of defense lies in the specific role a criminal defense attorney can play in a criminal case. This can be understood from the following two perspectives:

　　1. II. Criminal Defense Lawyers: A lawyer cannot determine the outcome of a case. (1) Legal defense isn’t about turning black into white—hiring a lawyer doesn’t mean paying to guarantee a predetermined result. If a lawyer ignores facts and legal principles, the investigating authorities simply won’t accept their arguments. Instead, an experienced lawyer will diligently identify grounds for innocence, reduced charges, or mitigating factors that could lead to lighter or even免除 (exemption from) criminal liability—and present them at the right time and in the proper manner. However, if a lawyer genuinely lacks compelling reasons to secure acquittal, lighter sentencing, mitigation, or exemption from criminal responsibility, then "even a skilled cook can’t make a meal without rice." (2) The fact that a lawyer can’t control the case’s outcome doesn’t mean their expertise is unnecessary. Investigative authorities base their decisions on facts and the law, and lawyers, in turn, offer their professional opinions grounded in the same principles. Does this imply there’s no need to hire a lawyer? On the contrary, experience has shown that, due to overwhelming caseloads and various other internal and external factors, it’s simply impossible for authorities to scrutinize every detail thoroughly in each case. Professional legal representation helps ensure that the truth is accurately established and that laws favorable to the client are applied correctly—ultimately paving the way for outcomes that protect the client’s rights and prevent wrongful convictions, miscarriages of justice, or unfair penalties. "Shaping the outcome of a case by presenting well-reasoned arguments. 'Based on facts and guided by the law' is the principle that investigative authorities, prosecutors, and courts must follow when handling cases. In judicial practice, most cases are resolved precisely according to this principle. During litigation, the evidence and opinions submitted by lawyers—such as claims that the suspect or defendant is innocent, that the charges are minor, or that their criminal responsibility should be mitigated or waived—are also grounded in both facts and the law. These submissions serve as the basis for investigative authorities to consider and ultimately adopt the lawyer’s recommendations. Thus, lawyers play a crucial role by persuading case-handling bodies to make decisions that favor their clients through thoughtful advocacy."

　　II. Criminal Defense Lawyers: A lawyer cannot determine the outcome of a case. (1) Legal defense isn’t about turning black into white—hiring a lawyer doesn’t mean paying to guarantee a predetermined result. If a lawyer ignores facts and legal principles, the investigating authorities simply won’t accept their arguments. Instead, an experienced lawyer will diligently identify grounds for innocence, reduced charges, or mitigating factors that could lead to lighter or even免除 (exemption from) criminal liability—and present them at the right time and in the proper manner. However, if a lawyer genuinely lacks compelling reasons to secure acquittal, lighter sentencing, mitigation, or exemption from criminal responsibility, then "even a skilled cook can’t make a meal without rice." (2) The fact that a lawyer can’t control the case’s outcome doesn’t mean their expertise is unnecessary. Investigative authorities base their decisions on facts and the law, and lawyers, in turn, offer their professional opinions grounded in the same principles. Does this imply there’s no need to hire a lawyer? On the contrary, experience has shown that, due to overwhelming caseloads and various other internal and external factors, it’s simply impossible for authorities to scrutinize every detail thoroughly in each case. Professional legal representation helps ensure that the truth is accurately established and that laws favorable to the client are applied correctly—ultimately paving the way for outcomes that protect the client’s rights and prevent wrongful convictions, miscarriages of justice, or unfair penalties.

　　As II. Criminal Defense Lawyers: A lawyer cannot determine the outcome of a case. (1) Legal defense isn’t about turning black into white—hiring a lawyer doesn’t mean paying to guarantee a predetermined result. If a lawyer ignores facts and legal principles, the investigating authorities simply won’t accept their arguments. Instead, an experienced lawyer will diligently identify grounds for innocence, reduced charges, or mitigating factors that could lead to lighter or even免除 (exemption from) criminal liability—and present them at the right time and in the proper manner. However, if a lawyer genuinely lacks compelling reasons to secure acquittal, lighter sentencing, mitigation, or exemption from criminal responsibility, then "even a skilled cook can’t make a meal without rice." (2) The fact that a lawyer can’t control the case’s outcome doesn’t mean their expertise is unnecessary. Investigative authorities base their decisions on facts and the law, and lawyers, in turn, offer their professional opinions grounded in the same principles. Does this imply there’s no need to hire a lawyer? On the contrary, experience has shown that, due to overwhelming caseloads and various other internal and external factors, it’s simply impossible for authorities to scrutinize every detail thoroughly in each case. Professional legal representation helps ensure that the truth is accurately established and that laws favorable to the client are applied correctly—ultimately paving the way for outcomes that protect the client’s rights and prevent wrongful convictions, miscarriages of justice, or unfair penalties. You need to familiarize yourself with the relevant legal provisions and the elements of the crime. For offenses that involve specialized fields, you’ll also need to grasp and organize the necessary professional knowledge. Additionally, lawyers should leverage the power of internet-based big data to research and summarize judicial rulings related to this charge—such as cases where prosecution may be waived, when an individual can be classified as an accomplice, or when probation might be granted. In cases involving bribery, lawyers must also stay informed about the political context and other relevant circumstances.