Do people / should I have a lawyer on call?
<p>I follow the law for the most part and I don't suspect that the police are out to get me. Yet, every once in a while, I hear people talk about something relating to how the police treated them, and the answer is, for the most part, consult your lawyer. This advice is commonly given when the police stop you and want you to give testimony (No, I'll have my lawyer submit my testimony) or if the police want to do anything strange (No, you cannot use my backyard as a stakeout. You can talk to my lawyer)</p>

<p>I assume part of the reason that this advice is given so frequently is that the people giving the advice are lawyers and they feel that they are more important than they are and because they have a financial stake in getting people to talk to lawyers often.</p>

<p>So my basic questions are:</p>

<ul>
<li>Should I find a lawyer to have on call?</li>
<li>Should I really consult a lawyer before voluntarily talking to the police?</li>
</ul>

<p>It would not be a bad idea to think about what you would do if for example the police arrest you for some crime (it doesn't matter whether you did it), or if you are interrogated by government attorneys or police. If you are arrested, you will be given the opportunity to call an attorney. You do not give testimony when police ask you questions, you give testimony in court. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-7o9xYp7eE" rel="nofollow noreferrer">This</a> is a widely-known video explaining why you should never talk to the police, and you should watch that video (he recently wrote a book on the topic, <em>You Have the Right to Remain Innocent</em>). Then go into any interactions with the police apprised of the risks.</p>

<p>Suppose you witness a robbery and the perps escape in a car: the police ask if you saw them, and where they went. You should not lie, because that is a crime. It would be good to help the police in this situation: is there any risk to you? Do they think maybe that you are involved in the crime? I think the relevant distinction is between being asked information questions, and being interrogated. If you are being interrogated, lawyer up. Even if you are free to go, they may still be interrogating you, and you may not know that when you are not being detained, you have to explicitly invoke your right to silence if they casually imply that you've committed a crime (this is the adoptive admissions thing, not widely known by non-law people). </p>

<p>The reason why many people advocate lawyering up is that the risks arising from not getting competent advice are high. I think that video is a useful corrective to the thinking "I didn't do anything wrong, I have nothing to hide". It's not just drumming up business. </p>

police lawyer