Hopefully you’ll never need to hire a defense lawyer, but if you find yourself in a position where you could use their assistance, it is certainly in your best interests to bring one on to help with your case. Forgoing legal representation when you’re facing criminal charges can have a number of consequences for your case, your freedom and your future, so don’t just assume that your best bet is to go it alone, plead guilty and hope for a slap on the wrist. In today’s blog, we explore some of the obvious and some of the hidden consequences of moving forward with your criminal case without a lawyer.
The Consequences Of Forgoing A Lawyer
You can run into a number of different issues if you try to navigate your criminal case without a professional in your corner. Here’s some of the potential consequences that could develop throughout the course of your case.
1. Missed Filing Deadlines – There are forms that need to be completed and deadlines that need to be met when it comes to developing and presenting a defense in court. You may not be aware of all the legal obligations that need to be completed in order to successfully challenge your case, but this inexperience won’t grant you any leniency from the judge. “I didn’t know I had to do that” isn’t going to fly in court. Paperwork or time sensitive case issues that are missed because you didn’t hire a lawyer will only further complicate your case.
2. Poor Defense – Odds are you aren’t going to be able to put together a very strong or convincing case if this is your first time building a defense. There are legal precedences and old case law that can help to prop up your defense, but if you aren’t well-versed in criminal matters, you’re unlikely to build a strong case.
3. Inefficient Presentation – Even if you develop a solid defense, which as we stated above will be difficult, there is also an art to presenting your case to a judge or jury. You’re not just going to be able to read a written statement in court, you’re going to have to ask questions, think on your feet, present your case and also work to discredit the story put forth by the other side. Again, without experience doing this on a regular basis, it’s going to be very hard to present a credible defense to the judge or jury.
4. Inability To Recognize Misconduct – It’s possible that the police acted inappropriately or illegally during the course of your arrest and evidence collection. If you aren’t able to spot misconduct by the police or illegal questioning by the prosecution, you may not challenge these issues correctly in court, which allows them to get away with their misdeeds. You need a lawyer who ensures that law enforcement and the prosecution fight fairly.
5. Limited Bargaining Ability – Finally, it’s also going to be tougher to earn a fair deal through plea bargaining if this ends up being a path you consider. The prosecutor is more likely to negotiate with a professional who can clearly explain why the defense has a path to victory in court than with a defendant who simply shows up to a plea bargaining session hoping they’ll take pity on them. You’re much better off with a lawyer arguing on your behalf in the courtroom and during a plea bargaining session before trial.
We understand that a lawyer can lead to additional costs at a time when your life is in flux, but oftentimes a lawyer can end up paying for their services by helping you achieve a much more favorable result than you would have received on your own. To learn more about what a defense lawyer can bring to the table, connect with Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm through a free case review session by giving our firm a call today at (952) 224-2277.
