Anyone who decides to represent themselves on criminal charges without representation by a lawyer is referred to as a “pro se defendant”. 


A pro se defendant is legally vulnerable in our complex criminal litigation system due to his or her lack of knowledge of criminal law and procedure and how the system works. Not being represented by a lawyer when charged with a criminal offense puts you at great risk of not achieving an optimal result based on the facts and circumstances of your case. If you are considered indigent by the court which means that you are found to be unable to afford the services of a lawyer then the court will appoint a public defender or court appointed lawyer to represent you for free or at a substantially reduced cost depending on how much you can afford to pay. Because there are those who feel that a public defender will not provide them with the quality legal representation that they will get from a private law firm, they may think about declining or dropping their public defender. However, even those who can afford to hire a private law firm may eventually be unhappy with the lawyer that they selected and wish that they had selected another lawyer or even represented themselves.

Being charged with a crime is a nightmare. A criminal charge and conviction even for a misdemeanor can negatively impact your current or future employment prospectives, status as a student or prospective student and reputation. One of the most intimidating situations in life is preparing for a criminal trial. One facing criminal charges may be in the dark and desperately search for information which helps them better understand what they face and how best to handle their situation. For example, one of the common search terms related to criminal law and procedure on Google is “what is the arraignment process” and whether one should consent to a “waiver of arraignment”. In addition to understanding basic terms and proceedings in court, making critical decisions such as whether or not to accept a plea offer will have a critical impact on your record and life. If you are unable to reach a non-trial disposition in your case and you are headed for trial, you will have to decide on whether to request a jury trial or waive a jury and opt for a bench trial where a judge decides on the facts in your case. If you are found guilty at trial for any of the criminal charges against you then you must prepare for your sentencing and present any favorable points, known as mitigating factors, in your case which can reduce your sentence within the sentencing guidelines that apply to your case. For a general idea of the criminal proceedings in a misdemeanor case, please visit: