If you have recently been arrested or charged with a crime, then you are probably deciding if you need a lawyer. In this case, you will need a criminal defense attorney. No matter what the severity of the crime, an attorney is going to be beneficial for every step of your case. Here are some things to consider when deciding if you need a lawyer and how they can help.

The Problem With Self Representation

With help from your local law library and the Internet, you might think that for a minor criminal case, you can easily represent yourself. However, not everything can be found in a book or with a quick Internet search. There is a lot to learn about your local laws and the crime you are being charged for, that you might not have time to research. A lot of things can come up that really require a legal professional to assist you with. Representing yourself could get you more jail time or a guilty charge when you weren't guilty of the crime.

Issues With Your Community

Another reason to get a criminal defense attorney is because your crime might affect your local community, where the community gets fired up and actively involved in the case. This can actually have a large effect on your case and what the end result is. It's hard to deal with community pressures and politics when you are trying to represent yourself in a criminal case, no matter what the circumstances are. It is much easier to hire a good lawyer and have them deal with anything that might arise, whether it is last-minute evidence provided by the prosecutor, or what to do when the public might be at risk for affecting a jury's decision.

Consider How an Attorney Helps

A criminal defense attorney, like those at Lonsdale Law, helps you in a wide range of ways, not just helping you to win your case. They are well educated and know every facet of the law, including having the inside information into your local court system and the judges that might be handling your case. They can also deal with prosecutors if you want to plead guilty and get a lesser sentence in exchange. They also personalize their tactics based on you, their client, and the case at hand. Because of how beneficial an attorney is, you should never go to court without one.