Later in the Bill of Rights, we learn that we retain the inalienable right to legal counsel. To my thinking, invoking that right early and often is as total a fucking duty as any. It’s not open to debate: it’s your duty as a member of the public to want a lawyer at all times.

And don’t worry if it’s a lawyer you can’t afford, appointed by the state. A common misconception is that public defenders suck; in fact, those guys have more flight hours in court than all but the very best of retained attorneys. Also, it’s irrelevant, at this stage.

Here’s why you want a lawyer—even a public defender whose best suit involves a cardigan:

Your Lawyer Is Your Mouthpiece.

Read that aloud. Twice. And again. Memorise it. Here’s why….

You are not your lawyer. Your lawyer is your lawyer. Your lawyer is your mouthpiece. Your lawyer is there to speak; you’re not. You say exactly nothing. Your lawyer does all the talking. Nothing your lawyer can say could ever be used against you. Your lawyer could tell the cops that you did it, whatever it was; his confession isn’t yours. Your lawyer talks; you say nothing; the cops don’t get anything to use against you in a court of law.

That says little about any other evidence they might have against you. But, trust me: nothing you could say to any cop while he’s interrogating you will lessen the impact of any such evidence. So, you have nothing to say; your lawyer does all the talking.

Got it? Good.

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