Should You Hire a Lawyer if You’re Not Guilty?

If you’re like many people accused of committing a crime in Chicago or one of the suburbs, you didn’t do it – but if you hire a lawyer, doesn’t that mean you look guilty?

Here’s what you need to know about why everyone, including people who are accused of crimes they didn’t commit, should call an attorney for legal advice.

Should You Hire a Lawyer if You’re Not Guilty?

Every person who’s accused of a crime has the right to hire his or her own attorney. And in many cases, if the person accused of a crime can’t afford one, the state of Illinois will provide one.

Your right to an attorney is a very important one, whether you’re innocent or guilty. That’s because the state has one job: to catch and punish the “bad guy.” If the state thinks you’re guilty and you try to defend yourself without knowing the ins and outs of Illinois law – and without knowing the tactics prosecutors use to prove to the court that people are guilty – you’re going to be in for a rough ride.

Related: Miranda rights explained

A lot of people believe that because they didn’t do anything wrong, the truth will come out in court.

And it might.

Or you could be found guilty and imprisoned for a crime you didn’t commit.

Likewise, many people think that hiring a lawyer makes them “look” guilty. It doesn’t; it makes you look smart.

The justice system in our country is made up of people, and people make mistakes. The most important thing you can do is to make sure you have a skilled, knowledgeable attorney on your side if you’re accused of a crime you didn’t commit. In fact, it might be even more important to have an attorney by your side in this type of situation than in any other situation, because our jails and prisons have far too many innocent people in them.

Related: 3 things you must do if you’re arrested

Do You Need to Talk to a Lawyer About Your Innocence?

If you’ve been accused of a crime you didn’t commit, we want to help you. Call us right now at 847-920-4540 to talk to an experienced, compassionate attorney who’s willing to fight hard to defend you in court. We’ll give you a free consultation and answer all your questions, and then we’ll start building a strategy that gets you the best possible outcome.