Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

Please, I am trying to find a lwayer to represent my sister, she was arrested for felony domestic violence and after bailing her out we are out of gold to sell and savings. She is a single mother of three that can really use the help of a good attorney. She is an innocent,trustworthy,caring, good citizen with no prior history of anything ever. Just trying to make it on her own. She has been dealt a bunch of bad cards through out the years, from our own father sexually and mentally abusing us to her ex physically/mentally abusing her till he decided to go and reverse the story alleging that she abuses him. Unfortunatly for my sister the justice system has not been on her side even after all the times she called the police for help that she never received. She has pictures of some of some of the physical abuse as well as statements she wrote about what happenned on those occasions that she had keep track of herself out of some of the times he hit,slapped and choked her We know the law should favor her (and for some reason we would like to determine it hasn't) if there is a lawyer who is willing to help she can make small payments/with time maybe a small down?

Asked on 9/10/09, 5:28 pm

4 Answers from Attorneys

Robert Marshall Law Office of Robert L, Marshall

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If she cannot afford an attorney, she should ask the judge to appoint the public defender when she appears in court. Public defenders are attorneys paid by the county to represent people who cannot afford to hire their own lawyers.

Attorneys are like doctors, plumbers, mechanics and other professionals who have nothing to sell but their time and experience. If they don't charge what their time is worth, they don't stay in business long.

Most experienced attorneys will not do cases with a small down payment and small monthly fees. The ones who do usually have to make up by taking lots of cases, so they are just as busy as a public defender.

In case anyone else reads this note, I'll just add that I usually advise people not to empty their bank accounts to bail somebody out of jail. If you get a bail bond, you will never see that money again. It's better to save your funds to hire an attorney, who can often get a client released without posting bail at their first court appearance.

Answered on 9/10/09, 6:46 pm

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Joe Dane Law Office of Joe Dane

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I'm always willing to discuss cases. If we can come to an arrangement for the fees, then we go on from there. If we cannot, for whatever reason, then I'll be happy to assist in making sure you know the best way to assure representation for your sister - either with the public defender or another attorney.

Answered on 9/10/09, 7:12 pm

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