Society

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...

Drunk driving is actually a broad term that refers to specific charges such as Driving Under the Influence (DUI), Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) or even Driving Under the Influence with Marijuana. If you have been charged with operating a vehicle under the influence, it's time to think about hiring a skilled defense attorney. It's important to keep in mind that some Fort Lauderdale defense lawyers will tell you a defense lawyer is required in absolutely all drunk driving charges, but this may not be true. Whether you need to hire a defense lawyer will depend on many things. Are You Going to Plead Guilty? If you plan to plead guilty, you do not need to hire a defense lawyer . You will also not need a lawyer if it is your first offense, no one was hurt and you have a very high chance of being convicted, as there is nothing they can do here. There are two main situations in which you will likely end up pleading guilty: irrefutable evidence you were intoxicated...

Michael A. Gottlieb, Esquire is a defense attorney with a broad history in high priority and well known cases in Florida. He discusses the importance of hiring a defense attorney, but not just the first one a charged person can find. In addition, He stressed the main reasons why discretion in choosing is so important. One of the main points issued was that obtaining a fair trial is not the only aspect needed in criminal defense, especially if a person has been charged with a violent offense. Too often the focus is on lessening the sentence or lowering the charges (i.e., from felony to gross misdemeanor), and there is almost no focus on maintaining the client’s rights. He used his extensive experience to explore the reality of devolving charges to the point of an acquittal, even having the record completely done away with and thereby avoiding sentencing and the destruction of a client’s reputation and livelihood. He examined what sets apart a valuable defense attorney in the...