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Represent Yourself, or Hire a Defense Attorney?

You've been arrested for a DUI or other criminal offense. You are told you have a right to have an attorney represent you if you wish. What will you do? People often think that lawyers are over priced and unnecessary. After all, anyone can represent themselves in court, right? Of course that is correct, but is it really the wisest course?  Before deciding if you should represent yourself or hire an attorney, you should consider the following facts.

First cost: It is true that if you hire a defense attorney, it will cost you some money. On the other hand, representing yourself is free. But you know the old adage you get what you pay for. A criminal defense attorney is well acquainted with how the court system works. In court, timing is important. It can mean the difference between getting the case acquitted and having to go to trial. Missing a filing deadline can be disastrous. Unless you are knowledgeable about when, where, and which papers need to filed with the court, you are better off enlisting the help of a good criminal defense lawyer.

Second the laws: Defense lawyers are well versed in the law. Sometimes attorneys can get a case thrown out because they can contest the legality of the arrest or the grounds on which the arrest was made. Some disputes hinge on very subtle interpretations of the law or on a precedence from prior cases of the same nature. Either way, in depth knowledge of the law must be had in order to know what grounds you may have for getting your case dismissed.  Since it is unlikely you know what to dispute, it is far better left to a defense attorney who has experience in dealing with criminal law.

Lastly your constitutional rights: Everyone has a right to a fair trial, yet often times law enforcement or prosecuting attorneys may try to pressure you into pleading guilty thus giving up that right. The prosecution may even make it sound like he or she is doing you a favor when in reality, they want you to plead guilty simply because they do not have enough evidence for a court of law to convict you. A good defense lawyer will make sure that this does not happen and that your constitutional rights are not pushed aside. They will work to make sure your rights as a citizen are protected. As a layman, you may not understand all of your rights and may unwittingly give them up to a persuasive prosecuting attorney. A good defense attorney will never allow this to occur.

When deciding whether or not to hire an criminal defense attorney, be sure to consider the above factors. Money should not be the only consideration. Rather, you should consider if your knowledge of the law and of your constitutional rights are equal to that of an experienced defense attorney. If not, do yourself a favor hire a lawyer.
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