What will happen if I tell the police I want a lawyer?

What will happen in you tell the police that you want a lawyer? This presupposes that the police are questioning you, asking you questions about something suspicious. If you tell the police you want a lawyer, then the law says that all questioning must cease. It’s much stronger than even saying that you don’t want to make a statement.

One of the things that we find is that, for people, and I use this example: if someone approaches you at a store, like a department store, and asks you a question, we’re all trained to respond – it’s rude not to answer. And with the police, and the authority, and all of the things that go into that, it’s very difficult for the person being questioned by the police not to answer questions – it’s some psychological thing that we all deal with. Now, for the police, if you ask for a lawyer the law is all questions must cease, and they must cease immediately. It’s the strongest thing you can say to protect yourself: “I want a lawyer.” Then the police cannot question you anymore. Many times when people say this, the police get mad, they get frustrated, they leave the room. It doesn’t matter if their feelings are hurt, what’s important is that you protect your rights. If you ask for a lawyer, that’s the most important thing you can say to keep from being questioned.

If you’re in that situation, contact the Complete Legal Defense Team, and we can explain to you further what your rights and responsibilities are and how to proceed in an investigation.