Short Answer: Yes.
This is a common question asked in my line of work. And a very simple one to answer. Yes. You need a lawyer. Specifically, a criminal defense attorney.
First, you must consider the potential direct consequences of a criminal conviction: probation; court costs, fines and fees; drug & alcohol assessment and treatment (for drug and alcohol related offenses like DUI or unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia); random breath testing and urinalysis (for drug and alcohol related offenses) prospective loss of driving privileges (for qualifying offenses); ignition interlock device and ignition interlock license (for qualifying offenses like Driving Under the Influence); anger management or domestic violence treatment (for qualifying DV convictions like Assault IV, Malicious Mischief, Disorderly Conduct) [Domestic Violence Treatment can range from 6 months to a year of treatment] [the greater the treatment, the greater the financial burden] [if you work and have a family, you will have to juggle treatment into your routine life activities]; No contact orders w/ loved one; deportation and denial of naturalization for non-US citizens (conditioned upon the charge and number of counts); loss of the right to possess a firearm (in family abuse cases) [getting rights restored in federal court and state court is costly] [if you are in law enforcement or the military, the Lautenberg Act no longer insulates you from deprivation of your rights under the 2nd Amendment]; Incarceration [read: Jail]; Work crew; Electronic Home Confinement; Community Service.
Are your eyes strained from reading all of this? Because my fingers are starting to cramp. And I am not even finished. I can think of more examples but it is 7:40 am on a Saturday morning and this what initially comes to mind off the top of my heezay.
Next, you must consider the collateral consequence of a criminal conviction on your record. We live in an age where jobs, resources and services are becoming more and more scarce. Scarcity breeds competition. More and more people are vying for those jobs, resources and services. An otherwise eligible candidate for employment may miss out on a great opportunity because a background check revealed a conviction on his / her record. Rental applications routinely ask if the potential tenant has arrest or conviction history. College students receiving financial aid can face disruption of funding for drug related convictions. Again, as stated previously — there are more and more examples of collateral consequences I can cite but these are just a handful of examples I want you to ruminate, when you ask the question “Do I need a lawyer”.
Below are links to information on backgound checks you may find interesting:
