The number of lawyers in the U.S. went up 0.2 percent to over 1.3 million in 2018. Despite this, you have the choice of representing yourself in criminal court. The question is whether it will be better than hiring a lawyer.
One of the main risks of self-representation is lacking legal training. This means you won’t have the tricks attorneys use to win cases. Moreover, you won’t know all the procedural rules for succeeding in court.
Even so, representing yourself has its benefits. For one, it saves you money on hiring and paying a lawyer. There’s also the issue of being unable to afford the best lawyer for your case. Plus, some people distrust lawyers and prefer to handle their own cases.
So, should you choose a lawyer or consider representing yourself in criminal court? Keep reading to find out.
Tips for Representing Yourself in Criminal Court
This year, the revenue expectation for legal services in the U.S. will be about 288 billion. Unfortunately, you can’t be sure a lawyer will be worth your time or money. If you choose to represent yourself in criminal court, here’s how you’ll go about it:
1. Learn the Court Procedural Rules
Check the court’s procedural rules to avoid getting in trouble with the judge. The rules may differ if your criminal case is in a state or federal court.
Learn the jury process and how to use it in your favor. Go to all preliminary hearings and other court appearances.
2. Read Legal Articles
Read online legal articles about your case, similar cases, and their outcomes.
Use these articles to learn legal terms to avoid confusion. Analyze your legal arguments and whether they’ll work.
3. Research the State or Federal Laws
Research the law you are accused of breaking and make sure you understand the details.
Find any loopholes you can use to save yourself. Be careful since your conviction may come due to a technicality.
4. Figure Out How to Conduct Discovery
Ask the prosecution to give you any evidence that may clear you. Get reports and other statements relevant to your case.
Investigate the case if you are not in jail and reach out to people – and experts – to build your defense.
5. Submit Motions and Consider Taking a Plea Agreement
Submit motions to challenge the evidence against you. This may expose whether the prosecution obtained the evidence illegally.
Consider taking a plea agreement and negotiate the charges against you. The agreement may involve fines, jail time, or probation.
The case will go to trial if there’s no plea deal. Present your defense and counter the prosecutions’ allegations. Then, you’ll wait for a ruling to know if you’ve won.
Benefits of Hiring a Lawyer
The points above show how tough it is to represent yourself. This is why the Sixth Amendment exists. It grants you an assigned attorney if you can’t get one on your own.
Hiring an attorney can be a daunting task that involves asking several questions. These include questioning their experience and expertise. Even so, you’ll discover hiring an attorney is beneficial.
For one, they understand the law and have the training to argue your case. They may know the prosecutor, which means a better plea deal. They also guide you and advise you on what to do or say. This, as well as the evidence, is often the reason you avoid jail or get convicted.
Your lawyer will also be the one building your case if you are stuck in jail. They have a team, which will make it easier to do research and investigations. Moreover, they’ll be more likely to get details about witnesses than you.
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As you can see, representing yourself in criminal court is challenging. Yet, you can still manage to argue your case and win.
Nevertheless, it is a risky choice if you might end up in jail. Thus, consider hiring a lawyer or asking for an assigned one instead.
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