If you are being investigated for a crime, you may wonder, “should I really bother hiring a San Diego criminal lawyer?” You may consider saving some money and cooperating with the police in the hopes that you will not end up needing a defense attorney at all or that you may qualify for a public defender.

But a criminal attorney in San Diego can not only help you fight charges once you have been arrested, but also help you protect your rights while police are investigating the crime. This could help you from accidentally providing incriminating evidence against yourself or from allowing the police to search property that they may not otherwise have a right to look at.

Additionally, a San Diego criminal attorney can also help you better understand the charges you are facing, the strength of the evidence against you, what defenses are available to you and what sentences you’ll be likely to receive if you are found guilty. If you are considering a plea bargain, your defense attorney can help you evaluate your options and negotiate the best possible deal available.

Many people wrongly  assume a private lawyer is always better than a public defender. What is most important is the quality of your attorney, not where they work. You want a lawyer with the training, experience, skill and passion to best represent you.

Unfortunately, you are only entitled to a public defender after you have been charged in court and if you cannot afford a lawyer. If you are being investigated for a crime, you will not yet be eligible for appointment of counsel. Once you are charged in court and qualify for appointed counsel, you do not have the choice of counsel. On the other hand, if you hire a private San Diego defense lawyer, you can choose the one best suited for you and he or she can start working on your case immediately.

Remember that most criminal charges carry large fines and if your San Diego criminal lawyer can help reduce the fines or help you prove your innocence, that alone may be worth the cost of their services. That’s aside from potential prison or jail sentences and the effect that having a criminal conviction on your record may have on the rest of your life.

As you can see, whenever you can afford the services of a San Diego criminal attorney like Peter M. Liss, it is absolutely worth it to do so. Mr. Liss offers free initial consultations along with low rates and he accepts all major credit cards. If you are facing any kind of legal issue, please call (760) 643-4050 or (858) 486-3024 to discuss your situation with a top criminal defense lawyer in San Diego.

Creative Commons Image by Alan Cleaver