Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

Re: Do you need a lawyer?

I've never heard of a modification to probation hearing except before the sentencing judge. Normally if the terms of your probation are being lessened/lightened i. e., formal to informal, or supervised to unsupervised. There's no reason for a hearing. The probation department or agent handles this. So if there's a hearing, and you are not aware of any violation. I suspect the terms of your probation are going to be increased. Or there's been a violation, and you've not been advised of the reason(s) for the hearing. This presumes that you didn't request the hearing. If you've requested the hearing to lesson the terms of your probation. Then it's your call on bringing an attorney. If the court or probation department has set the hearing. Then I'd bring an attorney for the reasons I've set forth above.