I Asked for a Lawyer – Now What?

 Posted on June 10, 2025 in Criminal Defense

If you are being questioned by the police, you definitely need a criminal defense attorney. This is true even if you have not officially been charged with a crime. The police may tell you that you are a "person of interest" in their investigation. While this term sounds fairly benign, giving you the impression that they believe you might be a witness, this does not mean you should answer their questions.

Remember, police officers are allowed to lie to and trick suspects. They are taught the skills necessary to do this and routinely employ these tactics. Regardless of how "friendly" the officer seems, remind yourself that he or she will stop being friendly the moment you provide the information needed to build a case.

So, assume that you fully understand you should never speak to the police without an attorney, and you tell the officer politely that you will not answer questions without a lawyer present. The officer leaves, and you realize that you do not have a single clue as to what you should do next. Most of us do not have an attorney on speed dial and may never have even considered who we would call in the event we needed an attorney.

Below, you will find tips on the best ways to find an attorney who will aggressively defend you. A Grundy County, IL criminal defense lawyer can ensure you do not make any statements to the police that could hurt you while immediately beginning to build a strong defense on your behalf.  

Do I Really Only Get One Phone Call?

Hollywood movies have led many of us to believe that we are only allowed one phone call after being arrested for a crime. This is nothing more than a myth. Suppose the police only allowed you one phone call, but the lawyer you called was away from his or her phone and didn’t pick up.

This is not to say that making phone calls in jail is easy or simple. You will not have access to your personal smartphone, so many people may choose to call a spouse, another relative, or a friend and ask them to make the phone calls and find an attorney for you.

If you are making your own calls from jail, you will have to have a way to look up the numbers for local criminal defense attorneys. Some county jails may provide a free call option to attorneys, along with a list of local criminal defense lawyers. If this is the case, calls are usually limited to 20 minutes each, are free of charge, and are not recorded.   

What Happens After You Choose an Attorney?

Assuming you are able to speak to a criminal defense lawyer and agree that he or she should represent you, there is little you can do other than wait until the lawyer arrives. Once he or she arrives, your attorney will be able to explain what will happen at the arraignment and will likely have a good idea as to whether you will be granted bail.

If you are being held on a drug charge, it is important that your criminal defense attorney has experience defending drug charges. If you are being charged with murder, you want to make sure that your chosen attorney has successfully tried murder cases and is comfortable arguing in criminal court. Your attorney will speak to the prosecutor to fully understand the charges against you and whether the evidence against you is strong.

If there were violations of your rights during the arrest, or if you were not immediately allowed to call an attorney after asking for one, make sure your attorney knows this. If the violations were egregious enough, your attorney may be able to have your charges dismissed.  

Contact a Will County, IL Criminal Defense Lawyer

If you are facing criminal charges, the sooner you speak to a Will County, IL criminal defense attorney from Law Offices of Jack L. Zaremba, P.C., the better. Attorney Zaremba will zealously defend your charges, building a strong defense on your behalf. Call 815-740-4025 to schedule your free consultation.