The legal system is complex and the laws are involved and are not always as straight forward as we would think that they should be.  When you pair the laws with the processes that are involved in the justice system today, it is easy to become confused and unsure of where you stand if you find yourself in legal trouble.  Most people don't set out to be in legal trouble, so when they suddenly find themselves charged with a crime, they may not know what comes next.

What needs to come next is the hiring of a criminal defense attorney.  While you can attempt to navigate the legal system on your own, it is not recommended.  If you aren't familiar with the law and the processes, you may find that you actually do yourself more harm than good.  You need to have someone who knows the law by your side as you work your way through this hard time.

A lot of people consider hiring a criminal defense lawyer and then find out that they are an investment, and think again.  If you are in legal trouble, this is an investment that you cannot afford NOT to make.  You need to work with a lawyer, and if you are worried about finances, you will find that most of them will work with you on a payment plan so that you can receive the help that you need, even if you don't have a huge budget to begin with.

•    Wondering what a criminal defense lawyer can do for you that will make it a worthwhile investment?  An attorney can help in countless ways including but not limited to:

•    Explanation of the charges against you

•    Explanation of the laws that you have broken

•    Guidance through the processes

•    Understanding what comes next so that you can prepare accordingly

•    Represent you professionally in court proceedings

•    Ability to communicate eloquently in an effort to reduce charges or do away with charges, when possible

•    Knowledgeable support when trying to make decisions

•    Educated counsel when you have questions that need answers

•    Guidance based on knowledge and previous experience

Most of us don't like to be in trouble, but when you are not familiar with being in legal trouble and you are not familiar with the law, it can be even more stressful. You hire a lawyer to represent you in legal proceedings, but their job is also to be by your side and educate you as much as possible about the charges and the law so that when you need to take action or make decisions, you can do so with as much of the pertinent information as possible, so that you make decisions that are best for you and best supported under the law.  While this is not a cheap investment, it is an investment in your future if you want to come away from the charges as unscathed as possible.