If you’ve been charged with a crime, you may consider representing yourself in court rather than hiring an attorney. This is referred to as acting as your counsel. It might look like a way to save money or to take control, but it’s generally a bad idea. So here are SEVEN clear reasons why you should NOT do it.
- You Don’t Know the Law Well
Criminal law is complicated. Many rules and steps cannot be followed without training. The criminal lawyer has studied these rules for years. If you represent yourself, you’ll risk overlooking details or making mistakes because you don’t have enough knowledge. This can prove to be a very damaging factor against your case.
- You Can’t Stay Calm
Dealing with criminal charges is a stressful experience. It isn’t easy to reason or keep your cool in court when it’s your case. A criminal law firm in London, UK, has detached and objective lawyers. However, if you do respond, you could allow your emotions to make you say or do the wrong thing, damaging your credibility with the judge or jury.
- You Miss Important Deadlines
There are time limits in court cases for everything from filing papers to compiling evidence. If you don’t know these deadlines, there is a chance you could miss them and lose your opportunity to fight back. For example, one of the roles of fraud solicitors is to know precisely when and how to file everything accordingly. To act alone is to risk getting the timing wrong.
- You Do Not Get Evidence of Rules
There are special rules about what evidence can be presented in court and how it can be organized. You can work with a criminal lawyer in London who understands these rules and can challenge the opposing party’s evidence. If you serve as your counsel, you may not know how to properly appreciate evidence or prevent the introduction of weak proof against you, which will tend to dilute your defense.
- The Other Side Has Experts
The people who will attempt to prove you’re guilty, such as prosecutors, are trained and skilled. They know how to make the case against you. The prosecutors you face are trained on this information and have experts helping them, while you do not have the same skills as these professionals. A criminal lawyer can provide you with someone who can match their knowledge and arm you with a proper defense.
- You Can’t Negotiate Well
Not every case ends in trial. Instead, the lawyers negotiate a settlement with the prosecutor, such as a lesser sentence. This is known as a plea deal. Fraud solicitors and specialists have experience negotiating with the other side for a fair salary. If you’re alone, you might not know how to negotiate or see that it’s an option, leaving you with what you may not like.
- Mistakes Cost You More
One misstep — saying the wrong thing in court, failing to observe a rule — can sow problems that grow larger, such as a harsher sentence or losing the case altogether. A criminal lawyer in London is trained to make these errors. When you represent yourself, even minor missteps can have high risk because you don’t have the experience to correct them.
Final words
Dealing with criminal charges is a serious issue. The stakes are high in representing yourself, and the impact can be life-changing. If you don’t know how to fix your car, you won’t; court is no different. When you hire a criminal lawyer, you’ll have someone to help you handle criminal charges. They relieve the pressure on you and improve your odds of getting a good outcome. Standing your ground can seem courageous, but it’s a bad move that could cost you more than you realize.
