Do you need to find a lawyer in advance?

Up to now in my life, I've never needed a lawyer. So when people say things like "... and then you call your lawyer", I have no-one to call.

Let's say I get busted for doing something and suddenly find myself in custody needing a lawyer. If I don't have one yet by this point, is it too late and I'm doomed to a public defender? If I want a better one, am I expected to already have one on hand for that?


Comments


[5 Points] Caymanquestion:

Yes, after my first charges I paid 5000$ to have my lawyer on retainer. He pretty much answers whenever I have a question. Pretty awesome because tired of getting Shit advice from dark net markets :)


[7 Points] an_illegal_smile:

Depends. Do you deal, or do you just use? Do you also keep a gun in your house, legal or not? (I'm assuming you're in the USA.)

If you deal, you want to start researching lawyers now. Look for a specialist in criminal law and look for one with a reputation for defending drug charges, DUIs, that type of thing, and winning those cases (last part is important.) The lawyers who make this type of thing their main business win so much because they are usually connected up and friendly with a lot of LE and local government -- half the wins are from backdoor deals that never see the light of day in court, and they know how to make those deals to your best advantage. Think seriously about offering a retainer to the lawyer you choose as the best. Most retainers are 5-10k but if you are a successful dealer, you should be able to come up with that and it will be a damned good investment. Like someone else said, at the very least you will have an actual legal expert to ask questions of, not just reddit forums, and if you do get popped on serious charge(s), you will be thanking god on your knees every night that J. Shyster Esq. is in the ring fighting for you right from the get-go, because you're going to need all the help you can get.

If you're just a personal user and never deal, you probably don't need to be that prepared, though it never hurts to check around and have a couple of names in mind.

That said, everything goes out the window if you also keep a gun in the same house as your drugs. If you own a gun (long gun or handgun), prepare for your charges to fucking skyrocket, even if you're just a user with small personal amounts who has never dealt. If you do deal, also having a gun will in most places mean that you are fucked so badly that even Shyster is going to just be going for sentence reduction, because getting you off completely is hopeless unless the police committed a procedural error somewhere. If you're a small-time personal buyer with a quarter-ounce of weed, a bong, and a pistol that you like to take target-shooting at the range on weekends, you are still going to be in for one of the worst times of your life because chances are you are going under a mandatory minimum sentencing law. Firearms + drugs = jail time, almost every time. If you like your recreational chemicals, think seriously about either getting rid of your gun or storing it offsite at a range (most ranges offer firearm lockers to range members.) Get it out of the same house the drugs are in, ASAP. It's going to be the biggest aggravating factor in the eyes of the law if you do get busted.


[1 Points] None:

At least have the number of one. And yes, you may want to sit down & talk to one, maybe put him or her on retainer.....


[1 Points] ravendarkh0lme:

Get a criminal lawyer on retainer.


[1 Points] aboutthednm:

If you want to keep a fraction of your illicit money, it's a good idea to put your lawyer on a 15000 dollar retainer. This is money that can't be seized, and it's a nice way of ensuring you stay liquid if your shit gets pushed in