system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: How are the lawyers of the wealthy able to get lighter sentences than the lawyers of the poor for the same crimes?

If the laws are the same, then what is it about expensive lawyers for wealthy clients that always seems to lead to lighter sentences for their clients?
gpt
Better lawyers can charge more money because they have more skill. They've got more experience, a better understanding of the laws, and better public speaking skills. They'll produce a better case than a cut rate lawyer because they're better at the job. 

That's only part of it though. A rich person won't hire **a** lawyer. They will hire **many** lawyers. Each one can specialize in a certain field, bringing in a better skillset, and the defense team will have multiple people to bounce ideas off of.

A poor person however just gets whoever they get appointed to defend them. Even if their attorney is competent, they simply lack the resources that a rich person could supply. 

Edit: Remember, in the US you don't need to be proven innocent to get off scot free. You're presumed innocent, and it's the job of the prosecution to prove otherwise. All the defense has to do is undercut the prosecution. If you can find a chink in the armor and keep pressing it, that might be good enough. Even if the defendant is totally guilty, if you've got enough people who can pick apart the prosecution, it might be good enough for a win.