WEBVTT

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Need a criminal defense lawyer

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urgently?

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Contact the court about

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appointed counsel and contact a

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defense lawyer who handles that

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court.

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State the next hearing date.

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Do not assume your hearing is

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postponed.

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Start with the court named on

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your papers.

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Check whether the case is state

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or federal, the charge, the

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case number, and the next

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required appearance.

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Use the court’s official

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contact details.

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Tell the lawyer or appointment

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office if you are in custody or

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court is today or tomorrow.

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Ask what you must submit and

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how to reach the responsible

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office.

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Keep a record of your calls and

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instructions.

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If you cannot afford

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representation,

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ask how to apply for appointed

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counsel.

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If detained, ask staff how to

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make that request, and raise it

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with the judge at your

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appearance.

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Federal courts appoint counsel

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for financially eligible people

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in covered proceedings.

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The appointed lawyer may work

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for a defender office or be a

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private attorney on a court

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panel.

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A referral or an unanswered

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message is not confirmation

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that someone has taken your

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case.

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Do not assume that every police

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interview, minor ticket or

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civil dispute includes a free

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attorney.

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The type of proceeding matters.

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The constitutional protection

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is especially important where a

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criminal conviction leads to

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imprisonment,

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including some suspended prison

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sentences.

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State law may provide broader

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help than the federal minimum.

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Ask the local court or defender

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service about your actual

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charge and situation.

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Do not decide that you are

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ineligible just from a label on

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a ticket.

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Be accurate about your income,

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available assets, essential

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expenses and dependents.

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Having a job does not by itself

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answer whether you qualify.

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In the federal system,

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a person who cannot pay the

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full cost may qualify while

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contributing available funds.

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A court may later require an

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authorized payment if resources

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become available.

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State tests and charges differ.

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Ask what applies and report

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required financial changes.

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Do not put financial documents

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or case details in public

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comments.

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For private counsel, a state or

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local bar referral service is

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one starting point.

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Verify the lawyer’s status with

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the relevant licensing

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authority.

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Ask whether they handle this

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type of charge in this court,

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whether they can address the

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urgent hearing, and who will

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actually attend.

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Confirm that the lawyer has

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accepted responsibility and

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what must happen next.

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A consultation, website inquiry

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or payment request alone should

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not leave you guessing who is

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handling the case.

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There is no single reliable

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nationwide price for a private

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criminal defense.

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Ask for a written explanation

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of the fee, payment schedule

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and work included.

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Does it cover the first hearing

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only, negotiations, trial or an

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appeal?

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Ask about investigators,

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experts and other expenses, and

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what happens to any unused

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advance payment.

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Compare the same scope of work.

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A low starting figure is not

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necessarily the total cost.

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Gather charging papers, release

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conditions, hearing notices and

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contact details.

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Keep original messages and

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other evidence you already

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lawfully hold.

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Do not delete, alter or

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fabricate material.

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Prepare a private timeline for

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your lawyer, and flag other

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cases, immigration concerns or

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professional licensing issues

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that may affect the advice.

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Do not contact someone in

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breach of a court order.

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Avoid discussing the facts on

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social media, public forums or

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calls you know are monitored.

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If you still have no lawyer

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when court arrives, follow the

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court’s appearance directions.

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Explain that you need counsel

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and ask about the appointment

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process or a request for time

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to obtain representation.

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A request does not

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automatically grant more time.

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Do not assume a private lawyer

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will attend until that is

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confirmed.

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Keep your next deadline,

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contact information and

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paperwork together so the

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person taking over can act

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promptly.

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Read the answer and sources at

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Legal Hotline dot com, with a

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hyphen between Legal and

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Hotline.

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Our United States number is on

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screen for free general legal

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information.

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Legal Hotline is an information

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service, not a law firm.

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Lawyer matching is separate.