My name is Danielle Diaz. One of the things I've learned in life, both inside and outside the courtroom, is that it is important to not see others as your enemy. Even though you may see the prosecutor as your enemy, he or she is just trying to do a job. It may be possible that you can get a prosecutor or the judge to be sympathetic and get him or her on your side. In order to accomplish this, you need to understand the law. I feel that most individuals do not understand the law, which is why I was motivated to create this blog.
Douglas Thompson
Have you found yourself accused of a crime and in need of a lawyer? If so, the thought of having to pay for one could cause you to not seek one out. Not using a lawyer is a big mistake when you are facing potential fines or jail time, which is why it helps to find a criminal defense lawyer that will work within your budget. Here are two tips for finding an affordable lawyer.
Find A Legal Aid Organization
You should locate any local organizations that provide legal aid to people accused of crimes. There are people that work for these organizations that will help get you connected with a lawyer that will work best for your case.
Since you are most likely unfamiliar with the process of getting a lawyer, they'll help walk you through it. It starts by finding out the type of crime you are being accused of. The organization will then find a lawyer in their database that has a background in your type of case. Not only will this match you up with an ideal criminal lawyer, but it will save you time since you won't need to do the research.
These legal aid organizations are funded from donations and grants, and they could potentially pay the lawyer for you.
Find A Lawyer That Will Work Pro Bono
Some lawyers do give back to the community by providing pro bono work, meaning that they will take on the case for free. They typically limit themselves to a certain amount of pro bono cases at any given time, so it could take some time to find a lawyer that has a free spot in their caseload.
You'll want to start by looking for a directory of lawyers in your area, and you should try to seek out the ones that specialize in the crime you are being accused of. You'll want to be professional in all of your interactions, which starts with making a phone call to their office to ask if they take on pro bono work. It will help to type up a generic letter outlining your case that is ready to forward to any lawyer that has interest.
Quality legal assistance doesn't have to be out of your budget. Hopefully, you will be able to find a great lawyer that is willing to help you out in your time of need. A lawyer can make a big difference in the outcome of your case, so do not give up hope due to the potential cost without doing your research first.