You have been arrested or charged

This page is deliberately short, because in the first day there are only a few things that matter.

Ask for a lawyer, then stop talking

Saying clearly that you want a lawyer should end questioning until one is there. Say it plainly rather than hinting at it. The urge to explain, clear things up, or be helpful is enormous and it is the single most reliable way people damage their own position. This applies to phone calls from a facility too, which are commonly recorded, and to messages and social media.

You are entitled to representation

If you cannot afford a lawyer one will be appointed. Public defenders are generally experienced trial lawyers carrying heavy caseloads, and the honest trade-off is expertise against available time. If you are hiring privately, the questions in what to ask a lawyer apply, with one addition: how often do you appear in this specific courthouse, in front of these judges? Local familiarity carries real weight in criminal practice.

Write down what happened while it is fresh

For your lawyer, not for anyone else. Times, who was present, what was said, what was searched and whether you were asked for permission. Details that seem irrelevant to you are often the ones that matter, and they fade fast.

How these are usually priced

Criminal defense is commonly a flat fee, sometimes staged so one price covers the case up to trial and a further one covers trial itself. Ask exactly what the quoted figure includes and what would sit outside it. Contingency is not used here.

The consequences that arrive later

Ask early about what a plea or conviction means beyond the sentence, because that is where the lasting damage usually is: professional licences, immigration status, housing, employment, firearms rights, driving. A resolution that looks lenient can carry a consequence that outlasts everything else in your life. If immigration status is involved for you or a family member, say so at the first meeting.

General information, not legal advice, and not a substitute for talking to a defense lawyer in your jurisdiction as soon as you can.