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CRIMINAL LAW

Defending a Charge Yourself

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Consider defending yourself.     Save yourself money.

Many lawyers say  "if you defend yourself then you have a fool for a client".   Some cases  -  Yes.   But not in every case.

In many cases it is necessary to engage the services of a lawyer.

But NetLaw believes that there are also a number of cases where you should seriously consider representing yourself.

At the very least, you can use all of the information we provide you in NetLaw to carry out all of the basic preparation yourself and then make it clear to the lawyer that your fee should be substantially reduced because of all the work you have carried out.

Court lawyers are now charging something in the region of $200 an hour and frequently more than that figure and GST goes on top.

Therefore, you can see that somewhere between 4 and 5 hours work can easily rise to $1,000 and full preparation of a case might take up 5 to 10 hours of your lawyer’s time even on minor cases.

Take some control of the situation yourself and consider either defending yourself on minor matters or at least carrying out all the basic preparation yourself and not letting your lawyer charge for that preparation.

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When you are first charged with an offence, on the first day you appear in Court you will be entitled to what is known as a Police Discovery kit.

This will contain much of the information on the Police file but will not necessarily contain all of the statements by the witnesses. You are entitled to obtain a full copy of the Police file and you can do this by dropping a brief note to the local Police Prosecutions Division along the following lines    

Police Prosecutions,

Dear Sir

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Feedback/Reviews/Blogs
"I was looking round Google to find something about representing myself and I found this and a number of your topics SPOT ON. Thanks. This one was great! Jon F. Auckland - May 2007"
"Thanks Netlaw. Rolf - Auckland"
Feedback/Blogs/Reviews from related topic: Accessory After The Fact
"I find this topic really helpful as well as all the topics under the "Weekend Arrest" topic. This is the sort of basic informatin which needs to be taught in schools. Don't you agree?"
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"I am a retired Solicitor from Kent in England and the $45 I spent on your site was really helpful because I am intending settling in New Zealand and your "one stop shop" was a real boon to me. Thanks again. Arnold T. Devon, England"
Feedback/Blogs/Reviews from related topic: Accessory After The Fact
"Easy to follow. I suggest to other cliemts of Netlaw that they read your topics SPEEDING as well as DEFENDING YOURSELF IN COURT. Nic - Auckland"
Feedback/Blogs/Reviews from related topic: Accessory After The Fact
"Is it possible to get a discharge without conviction on a dangerous driving or reckless driving charge? Thanks

Netlaw replies: Yes, it is possible, but very difficult. There would have to be very special reasons like driving in an emergency situation."

Feedback/Blogs/Reviews from related topic: Accessory After The Fact
"I found all your criminal law topics fascinating. I may become a criminal myself just to use your site. Nah, only joking but I liked Self Defence, Citizens Arrest and Drink Driving and Demerit Points.

Henk - Waikato"

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"Great to be right up to date with the new Evidence Act. Richard G. - Wellington"
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"Great to find all this information at my fingertips.
I think that Home Detention is a bit of a sop. Either you go to prison or you do not! I think it is almost like getting off! Mike H - Wellington"

Feedback/Blogs/Reviews from related topic: Accessory After The Fact
"WOW . . . a great site. This topic alone is worth the entry fee. I also did my own will and had it checked by a lawyer neighbour and he said it was perfectly OK. Matt G."
"I agree heaps. I actually followed this topic to the letter and got my limited licencemyself. It took a couple of weeks but reckon it could be done in a week. Everything you said happened. The cops were good and the judge was very nice. I only had to mumble "thank you". Noel G.
"

"Received phone call from the police today, they have told me they will NOT oppose anything set out in my limited licence application. They were very impressed that I had done all the work myself. Thanks NETLaw - Jake, Christchurch.

Netlaw replies: Thank you for teling us. We have had a similar letter from Auckland Central."

Feedback/Blogs/Reviews from related topic: Accessory After The Fact
"I was looking round Google to find something about representing myself and I found this and a number of your topics SPOT ON. Thanks. This one was great! Jon F. Auckland - May 2007"
Feedback/Blogs/Reviews from related topic: Accessory After The Fact
"I was roughly treated at a Police interview. One cop did hit me. It was not that hard but he banged me on the top of the head and yelled that he wanted the truth. It does happen . . not as bad as you see on TV but it does happen. Kevin - North Shore"
Feedback/Blogs/Reviews from related topic: Accessory After The Fact
"Dear Netlaw . . . it was really helpful to realise the difficultes in getting suppression of name and to get some of the caselaw. It allowed me to prepare a lot better. I had a silly shoplifting case but I am in my early thirties and I really wanted name suppression. You guys really helped. Also, you other sites are dazzling. Becs (not my real name)
"

Feedback/Blogs/Reviews from related topic: Accessory After The Fact
"Helped us greatly. We also looked through all your other criminal sites and have printed some off. Thanks Netlaw. Ali"
"Do we have to use the State paid "Youth Advocates"? Mrs H. (name withheld)

Netlaw replies - No, but you do have to pay for a lawyer of your choice UNLESS the case is so serious that it goes to the District Court or the High Court. Then, normal legal aid takes over where you can choose your own lawyer."

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