What Happens if I Lie to My Lawyer?

We all want to present the best versions of ourselves, especially when we’ve been accused of a crime or are in a bitter divorce or custody battle. Maybe your intentions are good, or maybe you’re just trying to save yourself some extra embarrassment, but lying to your lawyer is never a good idea.

The role of your attorney

Your attorney/client relationship is predicated on trust and confidentiality, so you should always aim to tell your attorney the whole truth in Tavares, FL. Your attorney-client privilege means that unless you tell your attorney you’re about to commit another crime, everything you talk about should stay between the two of you.
An attorney needs to know all the facts of your case in order to defend you or advocate for you properly. That includes the embarrassing, incriminating or otherwise “bad” facts, too—and if you’re not forthcoming with your attorney, they have grounds to withdraw from your case. You’ve hired a lawyer because you want to achieve a favorable outcome, so why jeopardize it by failing to tell the whole truth? Their job is to look at those unfavorable facts and figure out a way to either minimize them or put a positive spin on them. If they don’t know the whole truth, or if you lie to them about what really happened, the only person you’re hurting is yourself.

The consequences of lying to your attorney

You already know that your Tavares, FL attorney can withdraw from your case if you lie to them, and that not disclosing the whole truth can hurt your case—but what does that mean for you?
First, there’s the possibility that those bad facts you neglected to mention or fully describe will come up later in the case, and it will be a surprise to your lawyer. Not only do lawyers hate surprises, but it can also subject your attorney to additional scrutiny.
Attorneys are bound by the Rules of Professional Responsibility in their state, which requires them to be truthful to the court. They are strictly forbidden from misrepresenting evidence to judges and opposing parties, which means that if your lies come out during pre-trial or trial procedures, your attorney will likely move to withdraw. Not only will they be unhappy that you put them in a terrible position, but this will cast an extremely negative light on your case in the judge’s eyes.

What to do when the facts are bad

Many clients are worried about their attorneys judging them for the things they have done or failed to do. However, you can rest assured that your case and actions are just one of many that this lawyer has seen and litigated, and unless you committed a particularly heinous crime, they will likely not give it a second thought beyond how to best advocate for your rights.
When you need an experienced attorney to whom you can tell the whole truth in Tavares, FL, call K.J. Law P.A. today to arrange a consultation.

Categorised in: Criminal Defense