How to Request Legal Representation
If you are facing criminal charges and lack the ability to retain an attorney with your own funds, you can request legal representation. You will need to meet certain income guidelines and to be charged in a case in which you face a possible sentence of jail or prison. Typically, court-appointed legal representation for a criminal defendant is provided either through a government operated public defender's office or by a private attorney select by the judge and paid by the state or county.
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Instructions
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Request a court-appointed attorney at your initial hearing in court. If you are in jail, this session normally occurs within a day or two after your arrest. In many jurisdictions this is called a bond hearing. If you are not in jail, the initial or bond hearing occurs within a month of your arrest or being served with a summons describing your criminal charges.
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Complete the application form to obtain court-appointed legal representation in your case. The key element of this form is the financial worksheet. Each jurisdiction uses financial guidelines to determine if a criminal defendant qualifies for legal representation. The court in which you are charged with a crime or the local public defender's office will provide information regarding income qualifiers.
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Submit the completed application to the public defender's office or to the court designated to receive this information. If the court sets a deadline, make sure that you submit a completed application by that time. You do not want to unduly delay your case.
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Tips & Warnings
If you do not meet the guidelines to qualify for a court-appointed attorney, you need to consider hiring your own lawyer. Although coming up with money to hire an attorney is challenging, your interests in a criminal case are best protected through representation by an experienced criminal lawyer.
