A misdemeanor offense may not sound like all that significant of a criminal charge, but a misdemeanor conviction can oftentimes have a greater impact than you initially realized. This begs the question, “Do I need a lawyer for a misdemeanor criminal charge?” In today’s blog, we take a closer look at misdemeanor criminal charges and explain why it’s usually a good idea to have a lawyer by your side even if you’re “only” dealing with a misdemeanor.
Is A Lawyer Worth It For Misdemeanor Charges?
On the surface, it may not appear that misdemeanor charges are all that significant. In Minnesota, a misdemeanor conviction is punishable by up to 90 days in jail and fines up to $1,000. Most people do not spend time in jail for a misdemeanor conviction if they have a rather clean criminal record, but remember that it is not out of the realm of possibilities. It is certainly possible that you will need to spend some time in jail if you are convicted of a misdemeanor offense. This is one of the major reasons why people connect with a lawyer if they are dealing with misdemeanor charges.
There’s also the fines and associated court costs. $1,000 can put a significant dent in your wallet, and there may be additional court costs that you’ll have to pay. Moreover, depending on the charge, you may have other costs that increase as well. For example, if you need to pay to have an ignition interlock device installed, or your car insurance rates increase because of your conviction, the initial fine may be the least of your concerns. Misdemeanor convictions can easily result in thousands of dollars of direct and indirect expenses, which is why so many people opt to have a lawyer by their side to improve their odds of a favorable outcome.
There’s also the optics of a conviction. Depending on what line of work you are in or your plans for the future, a misdemeanor drug or domestic violence conviction can turn your world upside down. When you’re facing charges that can have a major impact on your life or your future, you need to defend yourself in the court of law. The best way to do that is with a lawyer by your side.
Finally, there’s also the possibility that this conviction could act as a potential enhancing factor down the road. Nobody plans to be arrested for a similar crime in the future, but if another mistake happens, your next charge could be upgraded to a gross misdemeanor or even a felony. If you contest the first charge and are able to secure a favorable result, any potential future issues may not be as severe. Don’t wait until you’re facing bigger charges to hire an attorney.
At the end of the day, whether or not you need a lawyer should be determined on a case by case basis, but in many instances, it’s worth it to have a lawyer by your side, even for misdemeanor offenses. If you want to talk with a lawyer before hiring one to see if they may be a good fit for your case, reach out to Avery and the team at Appelman Law Firm today for a free case evaluation. Give our team a call at (952) 224-2277.
