Why do I need a lawyer?

At the most basic level, people facing criminal charges will want to explore getting a lawyer because of the sheer amount of knowledge and experience that lawyer will have with California law. Facing a courtroom and judge without these skills and experience can leave a defendant with no real ability to construct a strong defense against the charges he or she is facing. Criminal defense attorneys also typically have access to information and potential avenues of defense that the average person would be unaware of. As such, having an attorney is one of the best ways that a person facing criminal charges can mount a strong defense to avoid conviction and penalty.