The short answer is 'no'. But, as it often is in law, there are exceptions. Although the United States Supreme Court recognizes a criminal defendant's right to defend oneself, it's really up to the presiding judge. The court considers many factors, including the complexity of legal issues and an individual's maturity level, before allowing someone to represent themselves. In civil cases people represent themselves all the time. Small claims court is a good example. However, the more complicated the issues in law, the less frequent this becomes. This is not a coincidence. You need representation in a workers' compensation claim or personal injury lawsuit. You most definitely need representation for a criminal charge that potentially carries jail time. Choosing to represent yourself, thinking you can rely on what you learned from a friend or a previous case, is not wise. As the saying goes, "a lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client." It really isn't a matter of how smart you are, having a great memory, or even being an excellent debater. When you are personally involved in a conflict you are emotionally involved. Emotions cloud judgment and the ability to distinguish between what is legally relevant and what is not. That said, even if you never intend to hire a lawyer, ALWAYS at least consult with one. It's free and confidential. Why wouldn't you seek a free, honest, professional opinion?

Immediately. If you were injured at work, in a car wreck, or a slip and fall accident, the insurance carrier that is responsible will try to contact you before you have a chance to hire a lawyer.

There's a reason they want to talk to you by yourself without an attorney. They will ask you trick questions and you are probably going to make mistakes that hurt your case.

If you hire me, that won't happen. The sooner you contact a lawyer, the sooner you can start collecting benefits you deserve.

It costs nothing up front to hire me in injury cases. Most injury lawyers represent their clients on a contingency fee basis. That means the attorney fee is contingent on the amount they recover for you. In most injury cases, the more you get, the more your attorney gets.

I only get a fee after I have obtained financial compensation for you. Also, I front any expenses associated with your file and you reimburse those expenses once we win compensation. So you do not pay anything out of pocket.

If we go to court and lose, I am out the expenses I fronted and I lose money on your case. You still owe me nothing.

Please call me to discuss my fees in criminal cases. I do have 3 separate fees that apply to 3 different kinds of cases and I do accept payments as long as the initial payment is at least half of the total attorney fee.

Absolutely. All consultations are confidential, and your privacy is a top priority for me.

So if you're not sure yet whether you're going to file a claim, but want to know what your options are without your employer or co-workers knowing you're thinking about it, don't worry. I've got you covered. No one will ever know you and I spoke if you decide to never file a claim. Unless you tell them.