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I Lied to My Lawyer – Now What?

I Lied to My Lawyer – Now What?

I Lied to My Lawyer – Now What?

So you lied to your lawyer. You told your lawyer that you did not stop at a bar on your way home from work, or you forgot to mention that you finished a bottle of whiskey before leaving the house. What should you do?

Lawyers wish that clients would own up to their lies immediately – or at least before they step into a courtroom. The problem with lies is that they lead to more lies. Lies to your lawyer do not allow the lawyer to prepare adequately for defending you and limit your chances of success.

Imagine a DUI client who did not tell his lawyer that he finished a bottle of whiskey before storming out of the house. Instead, he merely said that he left the house and drove off. The lawyer may be wondering how the client blew a 0.13 on the Breathalyzer. He may develop defenses such as an incorrectly calibrated device or a medical condition leading to higher BAC readings. Later in court, the prosecution’s first witness may be the neighbor who was drinking whiskey with the client, there to say that the client finished the bottle and left the house.

Not only will the client be revealed as a liar, the lawyer will look foolish for being unprepared to cross-examine the neighbor. Had the lawyer known what the witness would say, he could have researched and prepared to question the witness’s credibility. Instead, the client’s case has gone down the drain and the lawyer has lost all trust in him. A lie like this could also undermine the client’s position in negotiations for a plea bargain or lighter sentencing.

Alternatively, the lawyer may find out that the client lied before they go to court, perhaps through investigation and talking to witnesses. At this point, the lawyer loses trust in the client and may lose faith in the strength of the client’s case. Attorneys cannot lie to the judge, court, or prosecutor to save you – it would violate ethical rules to do so.

What should you do if you did lie? Own up and tell your lawyer the truth. Your communications with your attorney are protected by the attorney-client privilege. As long as you speak in private, the attorney cannot disclose what you tell him except under very specific circumstances such as to prevent someone’s death. While your attorney cannot lie to the court, he can figure out the best way to defend you if he knows the truth about what happened.

Have you been charged with a DUI and need legal representation immediately? Clint Patterson, Esq., of Patterson Law Firm, a former Tulsa prosecutor, uses his trial experience and expert-level knowledge of DUI science to defend drivers. He has the experience and the insight to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your case. To schedule a case evaluation, visit Patterson Law Firm online or call Clint’s office at (918) 550-9175.