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The 3 Reasons You Might Want to Hire a Lawyer Before Your Arraignment

The arraignment is the portion of a criminal case when a defendant formally hears their charges and is allowed to plead guilty or not guilty. While the idea of saying “not guilty” to a judge seems simple enough, you should understand that arraignments can be more complicated, depending on the criminal charge. Also, an arraignment may lead quickly to a pretrial, in which case not having an attorney present a serious disadvantage. Therefore, before you write off hiring an attorney for your arraignment, you should understand the top three reasons an attorney is beneficial in these proceedings.

1. Bond and Conditions of Bail

While many misdemeanors, especially for first-time offenders, will result in a personal recognizance bond, other more serious offenses will mandate a large bail amount. Additionally, a typical bail agreement requires the defendant to stay in the state of the offense, which is not always possible depending on the client’s job or living situation. Therefore, an attorney can help to argue on the defendant’s behalf and help to ensure compliance, which might result in a lower and less restrictive bail agreement.

2. Presentation

Also, hiring a lawyer demonstrates to the court that you understand the seriousness of the proceedings. Individuals who choose to represent themselves without prior legal knowledge can signal a lack of respect for the judicial institution. However, if you intend to ask for a court-appointed attorney, then you do not have a choice but to go to the arraignment alone because this is where you make such a request.

3. Involvement and Awareness

Last, hiring an attorney is better done sooner rather than later. The earlier a lawyer can get involved, the more time they will have to understand and prepare your defense. While it might seem unnecessary for them to be present at an arraignment, this is a crucial point in your case, and depending on the charge against you, things can move quickly from there.

Indeed, an arraignment is usually a simple and straightforward proceeding. It is also true that these proceedings can typically be handled without an attorney present. However, there are advantages to hiring a criminal defense attorney early, especially when it comes to charges that might result in a bond hearing. A lawyer is your advocate, and when you have been accused of a criminal act, then it is usually in your best interest to get an attorney involved at the earliest possible moment. Contact a criminal defense attorney in San Francisco, CA to discuss any other questions or concerns you might have.

Thanks to The Morales Law Firm for their insight into criminal defense and reasons to hire a lawyer before your arraignment.