Getting a Felony Attorney When Your Funds Are Limited

Defending yourself in a criminal trial without the aid of a felony attorney can be a big mistake. In fact, there are few upsides to making this choice. For those defendants who cannot pay for an expensive lawyer, most states are able to provide a public defender to take the role of counsel. However, some states have no such provision for a statewide system, which means meeting the constitutional standard can be more challenging. No matter the situation, you should never content yourself with the thought of representing yourself. Even the most overworked, underpaid public defender is miles better than self representation. Here are some options.

Looking for a Public Defender

In most states, the judge will appoint a public defender to a defendant who does not have the funds to hire a private felony attorney. This may come as a surprise, but this is the situation most defendants find themselves in. As perhaps a commentary on society, most people brought up on criminal charges are not rich by a long shot. And hiring a private lawyer can be very expensive. These lawyers are not willing to take the case now and bill later, due to the very real possibility that their client could wind up in prison with no incentive to pay. Therefore, the public defender's office is swamped with cases. Unfortunately, this can take a toll on the level of service one can get from such a lawyer.

Court Appointed

In states where there is no dedicated public defender system or in cases where the PD office cannot take any more cases, the judge may appoint a private felony lawyer to take a case for a reduced fee. In most states, lawyers are required to perform a certain amount of pro bono hours, i.e., work for free as a public service. Defending a client who cannot pay falls into this category. If you're lucky, you could be appointed a very good felony attorney who would otherwise cost thousands of dollars to hire. You can be assured of the same good representation he would provide to a paying client since, after all, his reputation is still on the line.

Legal Aid

Most states have legal aid offices that can help indigent defendants find funding for their defense. Call your local office and see what they can do to help you. Even a little money may be enough to make the difference between needing the public defender or being able to hire a private felony attorney. You may also want to contact your State Bar association to see if they can provide you with any leads that can help.