Why You Shouldn't Choose A Court-Appointed Criminal Defense Lawyer

If you are in trouble with the law, you probably know that you need legal assistance. However, if you are like many people, you may be planning on using the services of a court-appointed attorney. Even though having a court-appointed lawyer is often better than having no lawyer at all and representing yourself, however, it's still not the best idea in many cases. These are a few reasons why you should consider hiring your own attorney instead.

Court-Appointed Lawyers Aren't Necessarily Free

If you are thinking about going with a court-appointed lawyer because you assume it will be free, you might be disappointed to find that this is not the case at all. if you are found guilty, you may be charged for the services of a court-appointed lawyer, and these costs could be added to your court costs and fines or as a condition of your probation. For example, on the Michigan Courts website, it is stated that "Sometimes the court will require repayment of some or all of the costs of a court-appointed attorney." If there is a chance that you will have to pay for the attorney anyway, why not choose an attorney yourself rather than allowing the court to pick one for you?

Your Court-Appointed Attorney May Be Overworked

The truth is that many public defenders are overworked and underpaid. Even if they have the best of intentions, they may not be able to provide you with the level of attention that you and your case deserve. In many criminal cases, people have a lot to lose including, potentially, their freedom. This is not something that you will probably want to leave in the hands of someone who has stacks and stacks of case files to wade through.

Your Lawyer Might Not Have the Right Experience

It's generally best to hire an attorney who has experience in the specific type of law that you are dealing with. For example, if you have been charged with a drug crime, you probably don't want a lawyer who is mostly experienced in handling traffic offenses and DWI/DUIs. When hiring your own lawyer, you can look for someone who has dealt with cases like yours.

As you can see, choosing a public defender generally is not the best option if you can avoid it. Instead, you may want to look for a criminal defense lawyer yourself. Luckily, meeting with lawyers in your area should help you find someone who can provide you with the legal counsel that you need. For more information, contact a professional in your area or visit a website like http://www.jdlarsonlaw.com.