Some people are hesitant to hire an attorney when going to court. This may be for financial reasons, or it could be because the party knows they’re innocent and feels they don’t need legal representation to prove it. However, it’s incredibly risky to go to court without a white-collar crime lawyer. You could end up making some or all of the mistakes below.
6 Risks of Going to Court Without a White-Collar Crime Lawyer
1. You Could Misunderstand the Law
There’s a vast array of legal information and advice online. You may even have a free consultation with an attorney, get advice on your case, then decide not to move forward and work with the attorney further. However, you need to know that the law is always more complex than it seems. There’s only so much you can learn online or by speaking to a professional once. It’s easy to misunderstand a term, a technicality, and many other aspects of the law.
No non-professional has the expertise to defend themselves in court. This is true no matter how knowledgeable you feel you are. You’ll always be safer working with an attorney who understands white-collar crime law. Find out more about why you need a white-collar crime lawyer’s help.
2. You Could Paint Yourself in a Bad Light
You’ll need to get the judge and jury on your side while in court, and showing them evidence in your favor isn’t the only way to do this. Your argument must be compelling, honest, and make you seem like a decent person. Attorneys know how to paint you in the best possible light. If you end up making yourself look bad, then the judge and jury may be less likely to side with you, even if you have decent evidence backing up your argument.
3. You Could Incriminate Yourself
You have to be very careful with your wording in court. As almost everybody knows, anything you say or do can and will be held against you. You could make your actions appear a lot worse if you’re not careful with your words and your overall argument.
Attorneys are used to talking in court, and they know how to pick their words carefully already. Attorneys will not slip up and incriminate their clients; if they incriminated their clients, they wouldn’t have any professional reputation! Their job is to make you look as good as possible to get you the minimum punishment for a misdemeanor or felony.
4. You Could Get Emotional
Nobody is going to blame you for getting emotional in the courtroom. Being up against jail time or a large fine is a very scary thing. Having your reputation tarnished is also emotionally traumatizing. Your argument could be perfectly solid, but your emotions can impact your delivery and make it seem less reliable. You can also forget facts and mix up words. Emotions can negatively impact logical reasoning.
Your attorney, however, won’t let emotions get in the way of defending you. Your lawyer will be able to speak clearly, concisely, and with all the facts. They have no emotional ties to the situation. Of course, your attorney cares and wants you to come out of this in the best shape possible, but the case will impact them a lot less than it will impact you, allowing them to keep the objectivity needed to speak clearly, logically, and persuasively in a tense courtroom setting.
5. You May Not Follow Court Procedures Correctly
There are very specific rules and procedures you must follow in the lead-up to your court date, during a court appearance, and after appearing in court. The specific rules and procedures that you must follow can vary depending on the courtroom, your alleged crime, and various aspects of your situation.
Working with an attorney who’s familiar with the laws not just in your state, but in your jurisdiction, is essential. Your attorney can talk you through everything you must do and must avoid. With them at your side, you won’t accidentally break a rule or fail to follow a procedure. Plus, you always have someone to ask if you’re unsure of what you must do in a situation.
6. You May Ruin Your Chances of Winning Your Case
You may have a strong case with solid arguments and evidence that backs up everything you’re saying and will help you prove your innocence or get a minimum sentence. However, heading into the courtroom alone automatically lowers your chances of everything working out in your favor. Proceedings can easily take an unexpected twist that only professionals will be ready to deal with, leading to you losing a case you would’ve won if you’d just worked with an attorney.
Defending yourself in court is risky business. It’s never worth the risk to represent yourself, and it’s always worth the time and investment to work with an attorney.
