You know, if you're recently arrested, you're probably scared about going back to jail. You're wondering what happens next and thinking, “Did I just screw up my life?”
I'm Jason English. I'm a former prosecutor who represents good people facing criminal and drunk driving charges. When I talk to people in your situation, I usually tell them, “Hey, number one, go do some research, learn a little bit, and then number two, find the right lawyer.”
With that being said, the most important thing is don't wait. You know, delays are going to limit your options, and while most people think, “Well, I'll just stick my head in the sand and don't do anything. Maybe this thing will go away.” But a criminal case is not going to go away if you don't do anything about it. Also, if you're proactive, you're going to really get better results.
Number one, do some research and learn about the situation.
You know, we have a ton of free materials and content on our website. For you, we've got frequently asked questions, brochures, what to do or dealing with the community justice system. We've got books on What to Do When You're Arrested. We've got 19 Things That Your Criminal Defense Attorney Wishes You Knew, An Action List When Someone Is Arrested. We've got Tips for Dealing With Police. We have a ton of material on our website. It's there to help better inform you and you can make a decision, make better decisions when you're better informed.
Number two, find the right lawyer.
You're going to really need to look for someone who was a former prosecutor who spent time prosecuting these cases on the other side. Why do you ask that? Or why do you wonder that? Because they're the ones that have prosecuted likely what you're facing. They've got the experience and the relationships to be able to handle these cases and get you the best outcome.
You know, you need to read the reviews online. You can learn a lot from what a former client would tell you. It would tell you what to expect if that person handles your case. Then also go talk to the lawyer. You'll have that consultation and see if you're a good fit.
Number three, hire the best lawyer.
You know, some people wait and wonder, “Well, maybe I'll just get a court-appointed lawyer” when they get to court. You know, there are some fantastic lawyers who do court appointed work, but there are some crappy ones too. And you probably don't want to risk your future on getting a lawyer who doesn't care about your case or isn't getting paid enough money to spend the time with you and your case. You know, some people wonder, “Can I afford to hire a lawyer?” Well, can you afford not to? What's it going to cost you in the long run if you end up with a crappy lawyer and a crappy outcome versus what the price you're going to pay today is to get the best lawyer you can afford.
You know, being arrested is big deal. It puts you and your future at risk. And when you're ready to talk to a great crimial defense lawyer, it's easy to have that free consultation. Just give us a call at 512-454-7548. But if you can't work with us, you need to go find another good lawyer and work with them. Now that you know what to do, go do it. You cannot afford not to.
