Getting a Lawyer for Your Criminal Case
If you've been charged with a crime, you're entering the world of the criminal justice system. In this world, an experienced attorney is critical to help manage your case and obtain the best possible outcome. Many defendants will be able to get a public defender to represent them at no cost, but others may not qualify financially or prefer to hire a private attorney. In this section we'll explain who can get free legal representation, and who must (or should) hire their own criminal defense attorney. You'll also find information on finding an attorney, what you should expect from your attorney, and how to manage your lawyer.
To help choose the right lawyer for your criminal case, look for someone who knows the local players, has experience defending similar charges, and is a good fit for you.
One of the first questions you're likely to ask an attorney whom you're considering hiring is, "What will this cost?" Here's the low-down on how criminal defense attorneys charge for their services, which vary according to such factors as:
Most criminal defendants are legally indigent and can’t afford to pay for an attorney. On the other hand, the state can’t legally prosecute indigents unless it provides them with an attorney. To satisfy this requirement, many states have set up public defender offices.
I've heard public defenders called "public pretenders." Is that true or are they real lawyers?
Your lawyer must keep your confidences, with rare exceptions.
One of the biggest decisions in a criminal case is whether to plead guilty or go to trial. Learn how this decision is made and who makes it?
You must be legally "competent" before a judge will allow you to represent yourself in a criminal trial.
Criminal defendants might represent themselves in a few situations.
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