First, do not be afraid to spend time looking for an attorney. Your situation may call for urgency, but selecting an attorney is an important step in the process. Like many other professionals, looking to friends and family for recommendations can be helpful. If that is not available, then read through the reviews of potential attorneys online. Look for consistency in adjectives like: attentive, professional, available, knowledgable. Look for how others describe an attorney rather than how the attorney describes themself.

Fundamentally, an attorney is tasked to represent your best interests while acting within the confines of the law. Great attorneys will keep you well informed and discuss all of your options with you as you navigate the legal system. They will not only guide and inform, but they will also listen to what is important to you.

There are many specific duties and jobs that a criminal defense attorney does both in and outside of the courtroom. The vast majority of tasks are outside of the courtroom but many still involve arguing and presenting evidence. That is done pretrial, in plea bargaining negotiations. However, before all of this, your attorney should spend time carefully listening to you and analyzing the evidence. Be wary of criminal defense attorneys that immediately recommend taking your case to trial.

If accused of a crime, the vast majority of lawyers... hire lawyers. Being accused of a crime comes with the risk of serious penalties and the criminal justice system is known for being harsh and unforgiving to criminal defendants. The courts can take advantage of the accused, especially those who are accused for the first time, and can try to saddle you with the maximum punishment available. When you hire a legal professional who has a thorough command of the nuances of criminal law, you are allowing yourself the best opportunity to protect your rights and take full advantage of legal remedies made available to criminal defendants. Dont forget! YOU HAVE RIGHTS!  It is risky to try and represent yourself, and you have a far better chance of securing a favorable outcome when you hire a criminal defense attorney.

It’s less likely you’ll go to jail if prosecuted for a misdemeanor, but depending on the jurisdiction and severity of the crime it is possible. You might spend time in a holding cell, too, when first arrested for a misdemeanor, so the most straightforward answer is “yes, you can go to jail if you’re charged with a misdemeanor.” The likelihood of serving jail time in any situation can be reduced when you have a lawyer representing you.