Underage drinking, Disorderly conduct... I need a lawyer... What kind, where, who, what?

T

Tommy

New member
I'm so lost. My court date is exactly one week from today, so I know this is on short notice.

After talking to a friend I decided I'm going to get a lawyer for my underage consumption and disorderly conduct charges. I don't know what kind of lawyer, or where to even begin. I can't pay a lot of money... nothing more than $1000.... I live in Cleveland, Ohio. Please someone help me out. I'm in desperate need of help.
 
You will have the court to appoint you one when you go to court if you cannot pay for one. You need to check the lawyers out in your area from the phone book and call them and it should tell you if they take cases as this or not. Any lawyer will take such case as this,you can check the legal aid and see if they have one you can get.
 
If you want a lawyer for this, you need a criminal lawyer. It sounds like you were arrested and given a court date, yes? When you go to court, the court will ask you how to plead. Guilty or Not Guilty?

If you plead guilty, the judge tends to go easier on you since you saved the State from the cost of a trial. If you want to plead not guilty, the case will be scheduled for trial.

In my opinion, you can do this alone. Show up for court with paperwork that proves you're not a complete nuisance to society. This could be pay stubs or report cards or newspaper clippings (if you were ever in the newspaper for something positive), etc. Ask to speak to the prosecutor...if you're there alone and representing yourself, he HAS to make time for you.

If you're totally innocent, plead that way. But if you're guilty, ask him what he proposes for a sentence. He may say something like 1 week in jail, 1 year probation and $1000 fine. Tell him you'll plead no contest for time served (no jail), $500 and 6 months probation. Just bang him down, like you would at a yard sale.
 
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