Criminal charges are a significant disruption to your life, with your freedom and reputation in the balance. If you’re looking at misdemeanor charges, it can be tempting to simply try to settle your case without talking to a criminal defense attorney. But with your future hanging in the balance, it’s important to speak to a professional who can explain the legal process to you and offer options to stay in control of your case. Here are the top reasons to never be your own criminal defense attorney in Washington DC.

Your case starts at the first arraignment.

The arraignment is when a judge sets bail. Without a knowledge of the legal system in Washington DC, it’s hard to advocate for yourself to ensure you’re granted bail and that it’s a reasonable amount.

Getting bail you can afford means returning to your life and family to prepare for your case. An expert criminal defense attorney will advocate for you in court from the arraignment onward.

The case will take longer to go through the court system.

When defendants represent themselves, they aren’t given priority in an already overburdened court system. Criminal cases can already take a long time to resolve. Without a legal expert advocating for you, it can take even longer, putting you and your family through unnecessary stress.

When you hire a defense attorney, they can minimize the disruption of criminal charges to your life, helping you resolve your case and move on to the future you deserve.

Get objective insight into your case.

You may not see your own charges objectively, making it hard to argue in front of a judge or jury effectively. When you meet with a defense attorney, they know the right questions to ask to get to the heart of your case and the evidence to collect.

Objectivity is essential when you’re defending yourself in court. That’s why hiring a defense attorney is crucial for criminal charges. Your representative will present your case in a well-thought-out argument based on legal precedence.

Prevent the prosecuting attorney from taking advantage of you.

The only goal of a prosecuting attorney is to get as many convictions as possible. They may act as though they’re doing defendants representing themselves a favor by moving their case quickly to a plea. But you might have a clear defense for your case. With the help of an experienced attorney, you may even be able to get your charges dismissed.

Giving opening and closing arguments is stressful.

Watching lawyers on television or in movies, it may seem as though it’s easy to put together opening and closing arguments that tell the story of your case and present your defense in a well-reasoned and impactful way.

Even if you’re a confident public speaker who can give impassioned speeches under pressure, if your arguments aren’t based on legal precedence, it won’t matter how sincere you are.

You don’t know the rules of court.

While you can technically represent yourself in court, keep in mind that lawyers spend years in school, internships, and working with more experienced lawyers to gain experience. They go through so much schooling and training to present information in an impactful way.

You may frustrate the judge if you don’t follow the rules of the court, especially when it comes to witness testimony and evidence.

Schedule a meeting with Washington DC’s top criminal defense attorneys at Kurtz, Peters, and Associates.

When you need an expert criminal defense attorney in Washington DC, Kurtz, Peters, and Associates is the top law firm. We go the extra mile to get to know our clients and their concerns so that we can provide insight and guidance through a stressful time in their lives. Our criminal defense attorneys bring years of courtroom experience to every client and a long history of successful outcomes from court cases. Criminal charges can change the course of your life. Don’t take any risks when it comes to your legal representation.

Contact Kurtz, Peters, and Associates when you need a criminal defense attorney in Washington DC.