Many people are rather unfamiliar with the criminal court system, but this unfamiliarity can serve to hurt you in the event that you find yourself facing criminal charges. In fact, we recently heard from a client who was leery about bringing us on to her case because she thought that hiring a lawyer would make her look guilty. Does hiring a lawyer make you look guilty, though? We answer that question and more in our blog.
Will Hiring An Attorney Make You Seem Guilty?
Simply put, hiring a lawyer does not make you look guilty. Hiring a lawyer is a right granted to you by the US Constitution, and invoking your unalienable rights when needed certainly should not be looked at as a sign of guilt.
We understand the optics of the situation, but we think it’s incredibly foolish to follow the line of thinking that “If you’ve got nothing to fear, then you don’t need a lawyer.” We actually see it the other way. If you have nothing to hide, don’t leave your criminal case up to chance. Bring in a professional, let them prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are innocent, and avoid all the issues that come with a conviction.
Why is it that this line of thinking is only really applied to legal situations? When you enlist the help of a professional in other areas of life, people don’t automatically assume the worst. When a friend says they have a dentist appointment, do you automatically assume they have cavities? If they tell you they are going to the doctor, do you assume they must be dying? Why do we only jump to the worst case scenario when we want to bring a lawyer into the fold?
So no, a lawyer will not make you look guilty, and frankly hiring a lawyer will give you the best chance of showcasing your innocence to the court. There is so much on the line with your court case that you shouldn’t leave it up to chance. You could be sent to jail, lose your license or face major fines, so don’t risk it by going it alone or assuming that hiring a lawyer will reflect poorly on how you are perceived.
And lastly, hiring a lawyer is also an incredibly wise move if you’re likely guilty of the charges against you. Don’t assume that you have no chance in court or that pleading guilty is your only option. Your lawyer can pick apart the prosecution’s case, challenge evidence collection or negotiate on your behalf to help you avoid a worst case scenario. Hiring a lawyer is a wise move regardless of whether or not you’re guilty or innocent, so no, hiring one will not reflect poorly ahead of trial.
Let us put this assertion to the test for you. If you’re in need of legal help, connect with Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm today at (952) 224-2277.
