what kind of lawyer do i need for a police interview

Full Answer

Do I need a solicitor for a police interview?

A solicitor can provide advice over the phone, or make plans to accompany you to the station. If you have been arrested and taken to the police station, then you should ask to speak to a solicitor before the interview takes place. The police must heed this request; the interview cannot occur until you have talked to a legal representative.

When do you need a criminal lawyer?

These lawyers can be hired by the defendant or appointed by the court to represent the defendant. In serious cases, where punishments are more severe, a criminal lawyer is highly recommended, even necessary.

Why do I need a criminal defence solicitor?

Your criminal defence solicitor can make sure that your legal rights are upheld, while you are being detained at a police station, and/or during your police interview. Your solicitor can also identify whether you have any special needs. If so, your solicitor can take steps to put the necessary measures in place.

What is a criminal lawyer called?

A criminal lawyer is also sometimes called a defense attorney. These lawyers can be hired by the defendant or appointed by the court to represent the defendant. In serious cases, where punishments are more severe, a criminal lawyer is highly recommended, even necessary.

How do you ask a lawyer for interrogation?

If you are in police custody and you are being questioned, you can at any time prior or during the interrogation ask for counsel. Once you ask, the questioning must cease until you are able to speak with an attorney.

What are 3 questions you should ask a lawyer before hiring?

6 Questions To Ask Before You Hire A LawyerWhat's Your Experience? ... What Percentage Of Your Practice Is Dedicated To This Area Of Law? ... What Will This Cost? ... Can You Charge Me A Flat-Rate Fee? ... Where's My Contract? ... Can I Avoid Going To Court?

Should you ever answer questions without a lawyer?

In general, you do not have to talk to law enforcement officers (or anyone else), even if you do not feel free to walk away from the officer, you are arrested, or you are in jail. You cannot be punished for refusing to answer a question. It is a good idea to talk to a lawyer before agreeing to answer questions.

What happens when a detective wants to speak with you?

During an investigation, the detective may also have someone you know, such as a parent, sibling, or spouse, call you. The intent is to get you to admit to the crime. These calls are recorded and may become evidence against you. They may have someone you know wear a wire and try to obtain a confession.

What is the hardest question to ask a lawyer?

12 Tough Questions to Ask a LawyerWhat's your opinion of the probate process?Under what conditions do you recommend a Living Trust?How do I protect my children from abusive relatives if something happens to me?Can I keep my kids from controlling their entire inheritance at 18?More items...•

What's the difference between attorney and lawyer?

Attorney vs Lawyer: Comparing Definitions Lawyers are people who have gone to law school and often may have taken and passed the bar exam. Attorney has French origins, and stems from a word meaning to act on the behalf of others. The term attorney is an abbreviated form of the formal title 'attorney at law'.

Should I have a lawyer for a police interview?

If you have been arrested and taken to the police station, then you should ask to speak to a solicitor before the interview takes place. The police must heed this request; the interview cannot occur until you have talked to a legal representative. The police may try to persuade you against seeking legal advice.

Does getting a lawyer make you look guilty?

Hiring a lawyer does not make you look guilty; it makes you look serious about your innocence, reputation, and future. You cannot be arrested or convicted for looking guilty. You can be charged and convicted if there is sufficient evidence against you.

What is a police lawyer?

We have specialist police law solicitors who act on behalf of the police services and provide legal support and advice to Police Forces and Police and Crime Commissioners.

Can you refuse an interview with a detective?

Of course you can refuse to be interviewed or answer questions by the police, and in fact that is what you should do, especially if you don't have a lawyer. There is nothing unlawful about that.

What questions would a detective ask?

If you want to solve the mystery before your other fellow sleuths, we recommend the following 10 questions to ask your suspects:How did you know the victim? ... What do you do for a living? ... Were you and the victim on good terms? ... When did you see the deceased last? ... Where were you at the time of the murder?More items...•

How long can you be under investigation?

If an individual is released on pre-charge bail, the police have an initial time limit of 28 days to continue their investigation. However, this can be extended to three months by a senior police officer.

What happens if I refuse?

If you refuse to attend the police station for a voluntary interview and the police have reasonable grounds to suspect that you have committed a crime, they may arrest you and charge you.

Do I need a lawyer present if I attend?

If you are planning to attend a voluntary interview at a police station, it is important that you seek legal advice from an experienced defence lawyer.

What about questioning on the street?

If you are out and about and police ask you questions you are not required to answer them. You will need to give them your basic information, but it is a good idea not to say anything else, even if you feel under pressure to give information.

Why do police interview without solicitor?

That is why the police often prefer to interview a suspect without a solicitor present. It provides them with greater control, as they can withhold information from you. They can also mislead you into thinking they know more than they do .

What is the role of a solicitor in a police interview?

The Role of Your Solicitor During a Police Interview. Your solicitor’s role during a police interview is to protect your best interests. Your solicitor will achieve this by requesting disclosure from the police, advising you what questions to answer (and how to answer them), and ensuring that your legal rights are upheld.

What happens after a police interview?

After the police interview, your solicitor can advise what happens next. You may be released under investigation. If so, your solicitor can explain what this means and support you through the next steps. If you are held in custody, then your solicitor can work to secure your early release, whether on bail or otherwise.

What happens when an interview is underway?

When the interview is underway, your solicitor will check that the correct procedures are being followed. Procedural irregularities do occur, sometimes to the detriment of the detainee. As a layperson, it is very difficult to know whether the police are complying with the necessary rules.

Why can a criminal defence solicitor say a question posed by the police is inappropriate?

Your criminal defence solicitor can say whether a question posed by the police is inappropriate, perhaps because it is misleading or irrelevant to the line of questioning. This ensures you do not accidentally incriminate yourself. It is difficult to object to police questions without a solicitor present.

What can a solicitor do?

A solicitor can provide advice over the phone, or make plans to accompany you to the station. If you have been arrested and taken to the police station, then you should ask to speak to a solicitor before the interview takes place.

What happens if you don't answer a question at the police station?

Furthermore, if you do not answer a particular question at the police station, but you do answer that same question in court, it will look suspicious. The court may infer that you have provided a false answer, having had time to consider your response.

What Information Are You Required to Give to the Police?

You can be required to give basic information about yourself such as name, address and phone number.

What Can You Refuse to Answer?

The 5th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution allows you to refuse to answer most questions from police. In most cases you cannot be arrested for refusing to answer questions.

What Should You Say if You Are Arrested?

Once you are placed under arrest, do not make any statements except to request an attorney!

Why Do You Need to Contact a Criminal Defense Attorney?

The bottom line is you must never give any unrequired information to police without consulting an attorney first.

What kind of services do lawyers provide?

Lawyers can provide a wide range of services to their clients. Some lawyers handle many different types of cases. Some lawyers specialize in one or two types, such as family and divorce law.

Why do you need a lawyer for a contract?

Even in transactional civil matters, such as drafting a contract, a lawyer can be very helpful. A lawyer can make sure contracts are drafted correctly and avoid problems at a later date. A real estate purchase, business purchase, and/or creation of a trademark or copyright will most likely involve a lawyer.

What is a lawyer?

A lawyer is an individual who is licensed to practice law in a state. Lawyers are also known as attorneys or an attorney at law. Some lawyers are licensed in multiple states. Some lawyers are admitted to practice at the Federal level as well.

Why is it important to have a family lawyer?

It is important in divorce cases for an individual to have a family lawyer representing them to ensure their rights are protected.

What is personal injury?

In a personal injury suit, an individual is injured, mentally and/or physically, because of an accident, defective product, or an act or failure to act by another. A court may award a plaintiff in a personal injury suit monetary damages for their injury. Civil law cases can be complex.

What is criminal law?

Criminal law is the body of laws that pertain to crimes. Crimes are actions or behaviors prohibited by state or federal laws. Crimes are punishable by fines, probation, and/or imprisonment. Usually, crimes are categorized as misdemeanors or felonies.

Do lawyers handle different types of cases?

There are many different types of lawyers that handle many different types of cases. Some cases may even overlap practice areas. Most lawyers have experience with a variety of cases and will be able to help you with your needs. Despite the prevalence of “lawyer jokes”, lawyers are service oriented and look out for the best interest of their clients.

Why do police officers need a solicitor?

Having a solicitor can provide protection to a suspect who is charged and where there is a dispute later on at court as to events which occurred during the police interview. The solicitor can give evidence at Court and reject any suggestion made by the police that something occurred in the police station when it clearly did not. A solicitor can also make representations for bail at the point of charge. This is far more likely to succeed than if a suspect is unrepresented.

Why is assistance in a police interview important?

4.Assistance in a police interview is essential. In a police interview the police have a statutory function of properly ‘investigating’ an allegation. However, sometimes cases are not approached with an open mind, just because a complaint has been made.

What is disclosure of details about the allegation before interview?

Disclosure of details about the allegation before interview is one of the most important stages of the interview process. A solicitor can probe the police before any questioning commences. They can try to ascertain precisely what evidence, if any, the police have.

What happens if you are unrepresented in a police interview?

An unrepresented suspect at the police station will often not be told a great deal about the specific details of the offence being investigated before interview. This can be problematical for the suspect. It gives them little time and information upon which to prepare for interview. For example, if an allegation is said to have occurred some time ago, the suspect is not told about dates of the allegation until the interview itself. This can lead to them coming across as being vague or perhaps deliberately misleading quite unintentionally. Another example is when a suspect has a valid defence but does not know how to express it. Once something is said in interview it can be very difficult to repair any damage that has inadvertently been created.

What is a solicitor trained to do?

A solicitor is trained to deal with this , and to protect the your rights at this stage is never more important. What is said during an interview may have very significant implications should a matter ultimately proceed to trial.

Is it free to ask a lawyer at the police station?

1.It is free. Regardless of your income, means or assets, and regardless of the nature of the allegation (however serious or minor) everyone is entitled to free and independent legal advice at the police station. If you ask for a solicitor to attend to assist you in a police interview, the police cannot refuse.

Can you have a surgeon in a police interview?

You would most likely choose to have the surgeon. Representation in a police interview is no different. Being interviewed at a police station can be a daunting and very intimidating situation. Having the protection of a competent solicitor representing your interests at such time will assist greatly in alleviating this.

General questions

These general questions help employers understand more about your intentions of becoming a police officer:

Questions about experience and background

These police interview questions help an employer learn more about your specific qualifications:

In-depth questions

These in-depth police interview questions give employers a better understanding of how you would handle various situations:

Interview questions with sample answers

A big part of being prepared for the interview is understanding how to field questions. Considering possible answers can give you a sense of direction when considering how to word your own. Use these sample answers as your guide when preparing for your interview: