Do You Need a Lawyer? The Answer Is Probably Yes

Being arrested and prosecuted is an absolutely terrifying experience. You are scared, stressed and potentially facing losing your freedom for years at a time. Indeed, all of these emotions are among the many, many reasons why you should absolutely hire a lawyer if you have been arrested and charged with a crime. Here’s more information on why this is a good idea.

What You’re Up Against

Prosecutorial offices have much higher budgets than anything you can afford with your own services. They have teams of experts, loads of experience and administrative support to help them in their pursuit of a guilty verdict against you. Furthermore, whatever experience you may think you have, a District Attorney’s office absolutely has more. Your own lawyer can help balance the scales of justice. For example, a lawyer will help you fight errors in the prosecution’s case against you. In many cases, these are errors that you would never have found on your own.

Why Fighting by Yourself Is a Bad Idea

You are legally entitled to represent yourself…but, unless you have real legal experience, it almost never works and is usually a catastrophically bad idea. Simply put, there is a reason why lawyers have to go to school for so long and pass so many tests and exams: The law is extremely complicated under the best of circumstances. When you are forced to learn it to protect yourself—along with various specific courtroom procedures—it is basically impossible. While specifics vary depending on the type of case and location, the success rate for people who try to represent themselves in court is usually appallingly low.

You Can’t Think Objectively

When you’ve been charged with a crime, you will lose the ability to see clearly and determine the strengths and weaknesses of your case. You may think that the case for your own innocence is air-tight, but the simple truth may be the exact opposite. However, because you know the truth of the case against you—and because you cannot objectively review the facts of a case—you are not going to be able to see it clearly. Fortunately for you, a professional lawyer can. Not only this, but they can help you to follow the court procedures correctly.

It may be difficult and expensive, but yes, if you have been charged with a crime, you need a lawyer. Fortunately, every state offers free legal counsel if you cannot afford them, and other legal aid groups may be able to help.

Here’s another article you might like: 7 Things That Only Lawyers Understand