Do You Really Need a Lawyer for a Criminal Charge?
In most cases, YES YOU DO!
A criminal arrest and possible conviction may have far-reaching consequences. Often a criminal record may prevent your admission into college or trade school, may prohibit or discourage your potential employment in many fields, and may result in other serious, but unforeseen, consequences. In any criminal charge, the government is going after an individual. A lawyer can help even up the odds. This includes the assistance of a Public Defender, if you can’t afford a private lawyer.
THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE AT THE TIME OF ARREST. YOU SHOULD NOT TALK TO THE POLICE BEFORE TALKING TO A LAWYER. (WOULD YOU BEGIN SURGERY BEFORE TALKING TO A SURGEON?)
An attorney who regularly practices in the field of criminal defense can assess the strength of the government’s case against an individual and explore methods to defend or mitigate the outcome of the case.
An assessment of the case against an individual should begin with an examination of the evidence, which may potentially be used. In most cases, the individual charged does not have access to the government’s evidence and does not possess the professional experience to fairly evaluate the evidence. This is a job for an experienced attorney. It is very likely that you do need an attorney experienced in the practice of criminal law.