Should Everyone Hire An Attorney For A Criminal Case?

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You do not always need to hire an attorney. However, you do need to be educated in terms of the consequences before deciding not to hire an attorney. People often think, “Well, I’ll just use the public defender because it’s really a very small case and nothing is going to happen to me”. The reality is that no case is small when you are concerned about your criminal record. Any type of conviction on your criminal record is going to have significant consequences. Public defenders do an incredible job for their clients. However, the majority, if not all public defenders, are overworked. They do not have the time to devote to the individual client that a private attorney would.

What Does The Term Fallacy Mean When It Pertains To Criminal Defense Cases?

One example is that the police officer is your friend. The police officer is not your friend. His job is to arrest you, book you and to convict you. He is not there to work out some resolution so that you do not have to be held accountable for your actions. The second fallacy is that an individual can just handle the case on their own without the aid of counsel. It is such a silly premise because there are such variables that apply in every situation that are unbeknownst to the client. Knowing what to say and what not to say. Even that subtle difference is critical when someone may think about representing themselves.

Another fallacy is that” because I was able to drive, I wasn’t drunk; or I only had two beers and therefore I couldn’t be under the influence”. That is probably one of the biggest fallacies. The problem is that the limit for driving under the influence of alcohol is so low, it is basically two drinks within an hour that you are almost never able to avoid an arrest for driving under the influence if you have consumed alcohol. The best advice is do not drink and drive. It is much cheaper to hire Uber than it is to hire an attorney.

The Importance Of Hiring An Attorney That Specializes In Criminal Defense

It is similar to hiring a plastic surgeon to fix your nose vs. going to an eye doctor. You want someone who is in the trenches day-in and day-out. Who knows the prosecutor, the Judges. Knows how to respond, knows how to react and how to handle each individual case. Attorneys who are not in those trenches day-in and day-out are working in the dark, and they have no idea of what they are really up against. Not only is it critical to hire an attorney who specializes in criminal law, but it is critical to hire an attorney who is in the part of town where you have been arrested! Also, because an individual has been practicing criminal law for five years doesn’t mean that they know criminal law. It takes at least 20 years before one really knows criminal law.

Finding The Right Attorney For A Criminal Case In California

The best way to find an attorney is a referral by either another attorney or by someone who has had experience with that attorney. That way you are going to get the most reliable information. Obviously, there are other ways. The internet; however, anyone can post anything on the internet. Even though it is a good source for information, it is critical that you interview not only the attorney in person but possibly more than one attorney before you are comfortable and convinced that he or she is the attorney for you.

For more information on Hiring An Attorney In California, a free initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (310) 277-1707 today.