5 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Represent Yourself When Accused of a Crime in Tennessee

In addition to the cost of bail, loss of work, and the possibility of fines, retaining an experienced criminal defense attorney can seem like too much. But is it too high a price if hiring an attorney gives you the best chance for an acquittal or reduced charges? If freedom and reputation is priceless, I would think not.

Here’s a list of 5 reasons why you shouldn’t represent yourself “pro se”.

Complex Court Procedures - When representing yourself, you are responsible for knowing and abiding by the court's practices and procedures in the same way as an experienced practicing attorney. These procedures apply uniformly and are designed to ensure a fair and efficient judicial process. Accordingly, these practices and procedures are typically inflexible and unforgiving.

Complex Law - Criminal laws are not straightforward. Often the language is ambiguous and left to the courts to interpret. Without adequate knowledge of judicial interpretations, you will likely find yourself up against a mountain of confusion when what you need is clarity.

Too Close to the Situation - Being accused of a crime can wreak havoc on your emotions and drain your energy. When prosecutors and law enforcement have worked countless hours building a case, it can seem as if the whole world is against you. Emotions then stand in the way of reason, which in turn leads to mistakes, miscalculations and hasty decision-making.

Prosecutorial Advantage - In many instances, by the time you’ve been arrested or indicted, prosecutors and law enforcement have already spent countless hours and resources working on a case against you. Thus, there’s no time to play catch-up once charges are pressed.

Knowledge of Defense Strategy - An experienced criminal defense attorney in Tennessee knows what you can’t learn in a book. It’s a feel for the “game” of what defense strategy works and what strategy does not, what evidence is good evidence and what is not, where evidence is and where evidence is not.

While in the short term, representing yourself can be relatively cheap; in the long term, however, representing yourself can cost you your freedom and even greater fines. You should know that when representing yourself, neither the court nor the prosecutor will likely show you any mercy for failing to know the law or failing to follow court procedures. With such high stakes, you should consider your decision to represent yourself very, very carefully.

The East Tennessee criminal defense attorneys at Baker Associates have the knowledge, experience and resources you need to mount a strong defense. While prosecutors and law enforcement have been working steadily to build a case, we know what to expect and have successfully defended many types of criminal cases. With offices in Knoxville and Sevierville, our attorneys are familiar with the local practices and procedures of East Tennessee courts. If you have been accused of a crime, call one of our attorneys as soon as possible.