what happens after you ask for a lawyer

by Alexandrea Friesen 5 min read

If you ask, the police must allow you to contact a lawyer. You must be allowed to talk to the lawyer in private. The exception is if you have been pulled over while driving for a Highway Traffic Act reason or for a roadside breath test. If you still do not understand your rights after talking to a lawyer you should clearly tell the police.

Although asking for an attorney requires officers to cease questioning you, they may still arrest you if they think you have committed a crime or they have enough reason to believe you have committed a crime. If you spontaneously or voluntarily speak without being questioned, your words can be used against you.

Full Answer

Can the police question me after I ask for a lawyer?

Apr 01, 2018 · What can you expect from your lawyer after you hire them? 1. Gathering information is a vital first step. Your attorney and case manager will track down police reports, ask for any photos you took at the scene, and may begin gathering witness statements, if necessary. These pieces of the puzzle will help establish fault in the accident. 2.

What questions should I ask a lawyer before hiring?

If you say you want a lawyer, generally, the police should immediately stop questioning you. The 6th Amendment of the Constitution guarantees you the right to an attorney, and the courts have ruled that once you state you want a lawyer, all interrogation must cease. However, the cops don’t have to get you an attorney.

What questions should I Ask my attorney during a consultation?

Nov 16, 2020 · At the initial consultation the attorney will generally ask you to give him or her a brief description of what you need help with. At this point, the attorney is not looking for the whole story, but a brief summary. He or she will then ask you a series of targeted questions in order to determine: • The nature of your legal issue;

Can a defendant ask for a postponement to hire a lawyer?

If you still do not understand your rights after talking to a lawyer you should clearly tell the police. The police may have a duty to give you the opportunity to talk to another lawyer. You are allowed to call someone who is not a lawyer if the purpose of the phone call is to get help to find a lawyer. The rights related to talking to a lawyer are called the right to counsel. Always talk to a lawyer …

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Should you ask for a lawyer right away?

A: Yes. You have the constitutional right to talk to a lawyer before answering questions, whether or not the police tell you about that right. The lawyer's job is to protect your rights. Once you say that you want to talk to a lawyer, officers should stop asking you questions.

What should you not say to a lawyer?

9 Taboo Sayings You Should Never Tell Your LawyerI forgot I had an appointment. ... I didn't bring the documents related to my case. ... I have already done some of the work for you. ... My case will be easy money for you. ... I have already spoken with 5 other lawyers. ... Other lawyers don't have my best interests at heart.More items...•Mar 17, 2021

Why do people ask for lawyers?

They want to talk to you because they have some evidence that you committed a crime. It could be a statement from someone who believes they saw you commit a crime. Or it could be a statement by one witness who lied to the police to get you in trouble.

Does my lawyer have to do what I say?

An attorney must always do what they say they will in a prompt and timely manner as unreasonable delay may adversely affect the outcome of your case.Jun 28, 2018

How do you know a bad lawyer?

Signs of a Bad LawyerBad Communicators. Communication is normal to have questions about your case. ... Not Upfront and Honest About Billing. Your attorney needs to make money, and billing for their services is how they earn a living. ... Not Confident. ... Unprofessional. ... Not Empathetic or Compassionate to Your Needs. ... Disrespectful.Aug 19, 2020

How often should I hear from my attorney?

You should never be afraid or feel like an intrusion to contact your attorney every three weeks or so, or more frequently if there is a lot going on with your health or other matters related to your legal case. There is of course a limit to how much you should be contacting or sharing.Jun 17, 2020

What do lawyers fear the most?

Some of lawyers' most common fears include: Feeling that their offices or cases are out of control. Changing familiar procedures. Looking foolish by asking certain questions.Nov 1, 2015

How long should it take for a lawyer to get back to you?

A: The lawyer should be responsive to your questions within 24-48 hours after you left a message. If the lawyer is not responsive, perhaps he or she is on vacation and unable to return.Dec 28, 2019

What happens if a lawyer loses a case?

If the attorney loses the case, the client is still responsible for legal fees as stipulated in the original retainer contract. Some attorneys may agree to withhold billing until the end of a case, but they will still expect payment regardless of how the case ends.Apr 22, 2019

Why do lawyers ignore you?

There's bad news your attorney doesn't want to deliver. If your attorney is not experienced or efficient, they may have missed a deadline or made another mistake and aren't willing to confess their error. There could also be some bad news that is entirely outside of the attorney's control.Mar 29, 2021

Should you tell your lawyer everything?

You should always tell your lawyer everything. If you go to trial, the information you are hiding could come out during the trial. If your attorney does not know about it, the attorney cannot properly represent you.

How long does it take for a lawyer to review a case?

Question: Why is it taking so long for your lawyer to make a decision whether to accept your case? Answer: It should rarely take more than 4-6 weeks for a malpractice lawyer to make a decision about your case.

What happens if a judge finds you indigent?

If the judge found you to be indigent, he would appoint counsel for you. The judge, not the defendant, decides whether the defendant can afford to hire a lawyer. I've seen several cases where a defendant had resources, but didn't want to expend them on legal counsel.

What happens if you invoke the 6th amendment?

If someone were to invoke their Sixth Amendment right to counsel, but then continue to answer questions from the police willingly, they would run the risk of the court finding a waiver of their Fifth Amendment rights. There are two separate rights that you want to invoke when asking for a lawyer.

Which amendment gives you the right to refuse to answer questions?

The first is your Sixth Amendment right to counsel; the second is your Fifth Amendment right to refuse to answer any questions. The Supreme Court has ruled that both rights must be clearly and unequivocally invoked in order for statements made later to be ruled inadmissible.

Can you be released if you have enough evidence?

There may be a couple variations to these options but these are basically what would occur. The short answer is that you would most likely be released, unless they have enough evidence to charge you with a crime. Either way, informing them you want a lawyer and choosing not to talk is ALWAYS your best bet.

Can a police officer interrogate a person in custody?

As far as Miranda itself goes, briefly, the rule is that before a police officer can interrogate a subject who is in custody, the subject must be advised of his Miranda rights. Note the two concepts: interrogation ( viz ., questioning) and custody.

Is it a crime to represent yourself as an attorney?

Continue Reading. In every state of which I am aware, it is a criminal offense for a person to represent themselves as an attorney unless they are actually admitted to the bar. In many cases, the offense is complete if you just offer legal advice, although the bar is set higher there.

Can an attorney give free legal advice?

The key to understanding the difference, is that generally attorneys will not give legal advice without being first hired by the client. Attorneys don’t give legal advice without first being retained ...

Do attorneys give free consultations?

Many attorneys offer both free consultations and paid consultations, depending on what you are trying to accomplish. The key to understanding the difference, is that generally attorneys will not give legal advice without being first hired by the client.

What to do if police ask you questions?

You don't have to say anything else. If the police keep asking questions, don't say anything. Ask again to talk to a lawyer. If you do not speak or understand English, tell the police so that they can take steps to make sure that legal advice is given through an interpreter or a lawyer who speaks your language.

How long does it take to get back to duty counsel?

If duty counsel is not available, the officer can leave a message and duty counsel should call you back within 30 minutes.

What are my rights if I'm arrested?

What are my rights if I’m detained or arrested? Next Steps. 1. Ask why you’re being detained or arrested 2. Do not resist being detained or arrested 3. Ask to talk to a lawyer 4. Remain silent 5. Let the police do their search. 3.

Can you talk to a lawyer in private?

You must be allowed to talk to the lawyer in private. The exception is if you have been pulled over while driving for a. Highway Traffic Act. reason or for a roadside breath test. If you still do not understand your rights after talking to a lawyer you should clearly tell the police.

Can you call someone who is not a lawyer?

You are allowed to call someone who is not a lawyer if the purpose of the phone call is to get help to find a lawyer. The rights related to talking to a lawyer are called the right to counsel. Always talk to a lawyer before you talk to the police.

Can police stop questioning you?

The police must stop questioning you until you have talked to a lawyer in private. The police must allow you to call the lawyer you want to speak to more than once if there is no answer on the first try.

What to ask a lawyer about a case?

An important question to ask a lawyer is what the strategy for your case will be and the outcome the lawyer expects. You’ll want to get details on what kind of procedures to expect. Ask how long it will take for the entire case to be resolved. Discuss the legal strategies that will be used. Find out if your attorney will attempt to settle and if mediation or arbitration are options. Think about the answers and if you are comfortable with them. Maybe you want to avoid a trial at all costs but your attorney really wants to just go to trial, or perhaps you have no intention of settling and want your day in court. It is important that your lawyer’s strategy lines up with your needs.

Why is it important to meet with a small business attorney?

Meeting with a small business attorney is an important way to get your business off to a good start and minimize future risks. Here are questions to ask at your first meeting.

What is a meeting with a lawyer?

Meeting with a lawyer for an initial consultation is generally not a chance to ask legal questions that are in depth, but is instead an opportunity to get a sense as to whether this lawyer is the right one to handle your case. Use this meeting to help you decide which lawyer will be the best one for your case.

Why do lawyers offer free consultations?

Most lawyers offer a free consultation so that you have a chance to determine if he or she is the right person for you. Going to the first meeting with some simple questions can help you ensure you find the right person for the legal help you need. You will not get much legal advice at this consult since it is not meant to resolve your legal ...

Can you ask where an attorney went to law school?

It is generally not very helpful to ask where the attorney went to law school since you can find this information online and it often tells you nothing useful anyhow. Focus instead on experience with your type of case. You can also ask the average verdict the lawyer has obtained in your type of case.

Why do you need a lawyer when you are questioned?

5 Reasons to Ask for a Lawyer when questioned by Law Enforcement. If you are in the military, the military police (or other law enforcement personnel) have to tell you what crime you are suspected of before they question you. They also have to tell you that you have a right to remain silent. And they have to tell you that anything you say can be ...

Why don't you talk to the police?

Do not talk to the police. 2. Because they think that if they ask for a lawyer, the police will think they are guilty. This is not true. It is ALWAYS smart to ask for a lawyer. 3. Because they want to tell their story. Don’t tell your story to the police. After you speak to your lawyer, you can talk about how to tell your story.

Why do police want to talk to you?

They want to talk to you because they have some evidence that you committed a crime. It could be a statement from someone who believes they saw you commit a crime. Or it could be a statement by one witness who lied to the police to get you in trouble.

Can you crucify a police officer if they don't recall your testimony?

Even if you are innocent and tell the truth and you don’t tell the police anything incriminating, there is still a chance that your answers can be used to crucify you if the police do not recall your testimony with 100% accu racy. Example : “I don’t know who killed John. I’ve never touched a gun in my life.”.

Can police question you after you ask for a lawyer?

The police are not allowed to question you after you have asked for a lawyer. However, if you agreed to talk to them after they read you your Miranda rights and you did so voluntarily (without pressure, duress, coercion, etc), then the questioning is legal and the answers you gave can be used against you.

Can you ask for a lawyer to read a police report?

Simply asking for a lawyer does at some stage of a police contact does not prevent them from Mirandizing you and then asking for a Miranda waiver. If they read you your rights and then you asked for a lawyer and admitted that in the police report or recorded it, then you will be able to suppress those statements.

What to do if your default is accepted by the court?

If your default was accepted by the court and entered, you should now get your judgment documents prepared. You should consult a family law attorney or facilitator to assist you.

What happens if you default in a court case?

Once a default is entered, it prevents the other party from filing a Response. The other party may file a motion to set aside the default, but that would have to be heard before they were permitted to respond to the case or contest the orders you have requested. If the default is entered, you will need to proceed with submitting all the required forms for obtaining a default judgment that allows the Judge to make orders based on what you requested.

What questions should I ask my attorney?

Questions for Your Attorney 1 I’ve waived time and need more time to prepare my case. What do I have to tell the judge to get the trial date pushed back? 2 If the prosecutor asks for a continuance and gets it, can I challenge the delay by filing a writ in the appellate court? 3 I’d like to hire new counsel because I think the one I have is not doing a good job. What do I have to tell the judge to get time for finding a new lawyer?

What happens if a defendant needs another lawyer?

If the defendant needs to find another lawyer, a court could also give the defendant a reasonable amount of time to secure a new attorney. To deal with adverse pretrial publicity. Occasionally, defendants will ask for a continuance on the grounds of prejudicial publicity.

What is the right to prepare for trial?

To prepare for trial. States typically provide defendants with a minimum amount of time between entering the plea and going to trial. But a defendant has a right to adequately prepare defense (which includes the right of counsel to prepare).

What is the first appearance of a defendant?

In spite of this general approach, both the defense and the prosecution in a criminal case (and the court, on its own motion) may ask for and obtain a continuance, beginning with the defendant’s first appearance, which is typically the arraignment (where the defendant is appraised of the charges and asked how he wishes to plead).

Why do defendants ask for continuances?

Typical Reasons Why Defendants Ask for Continuances. Judges are often asked to continue a hearing or a trial for these reasons: At the arraignment, to secure counsel. An arrestee’s first court appearance is often the arraignment, when the judge reads the charges and asks for a plea.

What is the rule for criminal cases in California?

Criminal cases must be heard and determined “at the earliest possible time,” and the proceedings expedited “to the greatest degree consistent with the ends of justice.” (Cal. Penal Code § 1050 (a).) California Rules of Court, Rule 4.113 states that motions to continue criminal trials are downright “disfavored.”.

What happens when a defense asks for a continuance?

When that happens, the defense may ask for a continuance to locate that witness. Again, however, the defense will have to convince the court that the witness’s testimony is important and will have to show that the defense used due diligence in trying to secure the witness’s appearance in the first place.

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