Q: I got charged with a felony crime. It was theft valued over $200. I have no prior criminal history. What is the charges
I'm not sure how the legal system works. How can I get a lawyer before I go to court? Or does one get appointed to me?
A: You can go to “find a lawyer” on this website. Most criminal defense attorneys will give you a free consultation. There are no set fees so you may want to speak to several. If you can’t afford to hire your own attorney and your income is below a certain level, the court will appoint an attorney to represent you the first day you are in court. This is a public website, which can be read by the police and prosecutors so don’t post any more details.
A:
The best way to find a lawyer is to do some research. Get some names of local lawyers and research their history with the state bar to find out if they have a clean record of discipline. Next, read their reviews online and see what others say about the service provided in their cases. Call three of the good ones and get a free consultation in their office. Pick the one you have a good exchange with and trust to handle your case.
If you can't afford to hire a private attorney, contact the court clerk's office and request to be evaluated for court appointed counsel.
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