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How To Dress For Court

If You Have To Appear Before The Court…

You need to remember that, like any other time in your life, first impressions count–often a great deal more than you realize. How you present yourself to the Court can often times help the judge or jury form an opinion about who you are as a person. That’s why in any sensationalized court case, the attorneys always make sure that their defendant or witnesses are dressed to impress. Like it or not, what you wear does matter. We have compiled a little list of things to do/don’t do if you need to go to court from our years of experience as South Carolina criminal defense attorneys.

Before Dressing:

  1. Shower – this is crucial. Please shower
  2. Brush your hair or pull it up away from your face – your face holds a great deal of power through expression, and by having your hair off of your face, you’ll have the jury or judge looking and listening to you rather than staring at the hair that keeps covering your eyes
  3. Brush your teeth – this should go without saying, but we’ll say it anyway
  4. Deodorant – again, should go without saying

How To Dress (Male):

How To Dress For CourtMen – dress like you care. Dress like you are a gentleman worthy of attention and consideration.

  • At least wear a shirt and pants without holes or stains
  • Try to dress like you would if you were going to church
  • Slacks, a button-down, a tie, and a sports coat (if you own one) are imperative
  • Suit, if you own one
  • No tennis shoes please
  • No flip-flops
  • Avoid jeans
  • Avoid looking like you are going to a club or to the mall or to help a friend move
  • If you have a beard or facial hair, please make sure it is well-maintained and not scraggly
  • Try to cover up tattoos or piercings
  • No jewelry

 

 


How To Dress (Female):

How To Dress For CourtLadies – dress like you, too, care. Dress like you are a lady, and as such, worthy of attention and consideration.

  • Wear a skirt or dress that is about knee length – now is not the time to try out your new miniskirt
  • If wearing a skirt or pants, choose a blouse or sweater that is not too low-cut, or sheer, or anything that will distract from what you have to say
  • As mentioned above, avoid stains or holes
  • Wear pantyhose without runs
  • Wear conservative heels to give you a lift and good posture if possible. Flats are acceptable.
  • Flip-flops or tennis shoes are not acceptable
  • Keep jewelry to a minimum – a good rule of thumb (ever) is never wear more than five (5) pieces of jewelry. Two of those five will be the earrings (one in either ear)
  • Keep makeup to a minimum. Avoid looking like Tammy Faye Bakker
  • Do not wear an overabundance of perfume – your shower should do the trick
  • If you wear your hair down, make sure it doesn’t look like you were caught in a wind tunnel. An up-do is a good go-to in this situation
  • Cover up any tattoos or facial piercings if possible

 

 


If You Have Any Questions:

Please don’t hesitate to contact a South Carolina attorney to discuss your case and how to appear in court. This is of the utmost importance that you retain an attorney early enough so that they can walk you through how to present yourself to the court. Your freedom, rights, and ability to not pay a fine may depend on this.

 

What Not To Do On Social Media (If You Have A Pending Case)

So, You Have A Pending Case…

Criminal Defense AttorneyIn today’s world, social media seems to be everywhere you look, and with smart phones, the access to sites like Facebook, Twitter, Yik Yak, Snapchat, Pinterest, among so many others makes it easy to keep up with friends, as well as share what you’re doing. This is problematic for many reasons, but mostly when you have a pending case. I’m sure you’ve heard the adage, “Once it’s on the Internet, you can’t take it back” or something to that extent, and that rings true especially if your guilt or innocence may depend on an accidental post, or by revealing more than you should. If you have a pending case, a South Carolina Criminal Defense Attorney would likely recommend that you not talk about the case in any fashion, online or offline. For anyone facing criminal charges in Columbia, SC, we’re here to help you.

What Not To Do:

  • Post a photo of you playing beer pong hours before you were charged with a DUI
  • Taunt the police officer, opposing party, any representative of the court (i.e. lawyer, judge, etc.) on any social media site
  • Threaten anyone at anytime
  • Avoid joining groups with compromising names (i.e. “420” anything if you’ve been charged with possession)
  • Never EVER post anything related to your case
  • Be careful when someone else tags you in a picture, remove the tag, or ask them to take the photo down
  • Never admit guilt – this can’t be stressed enough
  • NEVER ADMIT GUILT

If You Need Representation:

If you have any questions about this, or if you are looking for representation in any criminal case in the Columbia, SC area, we’re here to help.

What To Look For in A Criminal Attorney

Hiring A Criminal Defense Attorney

Criminal Defense AttorneyIf you have been charged with a criminal offense, it is always emotionally trying. If you’re unfamiliar about the finer points of the law, especially with regard to your state, county, or region of arrest, it only makes matters worse. This is why finding an experienced South Carolina criminal defense attorney is crucial. You want to have representation from knowledgeable attorneys who have years of courtroom experience and experience in understanding each unique case. Perhaps you’ve been charged with a crime that is at best circumstantial, an experienced attorney would help drag you out of the legal mess. In addition to defending your freedom in a courtroom, a criminal defense attorney may:

  1. Reducing your sentence: the goal of any defense attorney is to defend your rights and to make your outcome as favorable as possible. This could mean they get the sentence reduced or get you off entirely. By hiring an experienced attorney, you guarantee the best outcome for your situation.
  2. Investigate your case thoroughly: Your attorney will sort through all of the evidence and all of the details of your specific case. The attorney may use many different resources and legal maneuvers to get you a more positive outcome.
  3. Get you out of a legal mess: You’re probably an emotional wreck if you’ve been accused of a criminal offense. Often times, when people are so devastated, they make choices that get them into even more trouble. An experienced defense attorney will try to keep you from hurting your case any more and will try to get you out of your legal predicament.

If You Are In Legal Trouble

Please don’t wait to reach out to an experienced defense attorney. It could be detrimental to your case if you wait. Let an experienced defense attorney use their know-how to work in your favor.