How much should you tell your criminal defense lawyer?
Many people who have been accused of crimes in Illinois want a lawyer’s guidance – but they’re not quite sure just how much to tell an attorney. Should you tell him if you’re guilty of a crime? Should you tell him about other crimes that the police may not know about?
Here’s the scoop on how much you should tell a criminal defense lawyer.
Should You Tell Your Criminal Defense Lawyer Everything?
When you call an attorney after you’ve been accused of a crime, he’s going to ask you questions about your situation. He’ll ask you for answers he needs to formulate your defense.
Everything you say to your lawyer about your case is protected by attorney-client privilege. Your lawyer can’t be forced to testify against you, and he can’t tell other people the things you tell him – so you don’t have to worry that he’ll run to the prosecutor and tell the court that you’re guilty of committing a crime.
Unless you give your lawyer your permission to do so, he can’t talk about your case or divulge any details that could be detrimental to you. In fact, your lawyer can’t go home and talk about your case with his friends, either – the things you say are definitely confidential.
Can You Admit Guilt to Your Lawyer?
Here’s the bottom line: Many people accused of crimes actually committed those crimes. If your attorney only represented innocent people, he’d go out of business pretty quickly.
You can tell your attorney everything he needs to know about your case. It’s his job to protect your rights under the law and ensure you’re being treated fairly – and he will do his best to defend you in the face of evidence the prosecution has.
Do You Need to Talk to a Lawyer About Criminal Charges?
If you need to talk to an attorney, we’re here for you. We’ll be happy to provide you with a free case review, where we’ll answer your questions and give you legal advice that leads your case to the best possible outcome.
