If you qualify financially, the Public Defender's Office is available.
You have to ask the court to appoint an attorney because you can't afford to hire one. The court will arrange an interview with Indigent Defense or the Public Defender's Office, who will determine if you qualify for their services based on your income. The related source below has links to state Public Defender Services, and to local Public Defender and Indigent Defense offices. Click the links for their contact information, and for more details about their services and procedures.
If you are passionate about criminal defense, there are a variety of careers within this sector. Perhaps the most popular is that of a criminal defense attorney, which requires graduation from an accredited law school, in addition to passing the bar exam in the state in which you plan to practice. Criminal defense attorneys may work in private practice or for the public defender's office. The public defender's office is the entity that provides attorneys to defendants who cannot afford to hire their own attorney. Each state has their own standards of the qualifications defendants have to meet in order to qualify for an attorney at no charge. Not all attorneys who are appointed legal counsel pro bono, which means at no charge, work for the public defender's office. In some jurisdictions, attorneys in private practice are appointed to represent defendants in criminal cases. Some attorneys simply want to give back to their communities, and so they take on a certain amount of pro bono work, some of which is spent defending individuals in criminal matters. If you have a passion for criminal defense work, but do not plan to pursue a law degree, there are other ways in which you can serve. For example, paralegals work in a variety of jobs in the criminal defense sector. They work under the supervision of an attorney and assist with legal matters. Some paralegals have a college degree; others have earned a paralegal certificate from a trade school. However, there is no set standard in the United States governing certification or training of a paralegal. Paralegals often interview defendants, witnesses, and conduct research. They may prepare legal and other documents necessary in the preparation of a case. While paralegals perform much of the work that goes into a criminal case, they do not appear in court. Investigators also fulfill an important role in the criminal defense process. Investigators work in the background, interviewing witnesses and piecing together the facts of a case. They may investigate the facts surrounding what defendants or witnesses state about a particular crime. They may look for witnesses when none appear to come forward. The investigator may discover information that may help or hurt their client in the course of a trial; however, by providing the criminal defense attorney with as many facts as possible, the investigator helps the attorney to be prepared. Careers in the criminal defense sector can be fulfilling and exciting. Criminal justice and defense offers individuals in many areas of expertise to use their skills in rewarding careers.
Lawyers who do pro bono work typically take on cases involving issues such as civil rights, immigration, housing, family law, and criminal defense for individuals who cannot afford legal representation.
However, there are two agencies in the Bronx that handle civil rights and criminal cases: Bronx Legal Aid and Bronx Defenders. The catch is that you will have to show that you can't afford to hire a private attorney.
Some pro bono projects offer assistance to defendants who are unable to afford attorneys in civil suits, but there is no guaranteed right to an appointed attorney as there are in criminal actions. If you are unable to obtain low cost or free legal assistance, you will need to do the research and answer the lawsuit to the best of your ability. The most important thing is to remember to always be honest. You may or may not receive some leniency from the Court regarding procedure, but presenting a defense that is false or that you don't understand will never work out well for you.
The rates charged by criminal defense attorneys varies by region of the country, type of crime being defended, and the lawyer's experience and prestige. Some lawyer's will provide pro-bono services to criminal defendants, while others will charge over $500 an hour.
You don't 'find' "Pro Bono" attorneys. They are appointed from a list by the court to either supplement or take the place of Public Defenders.
You can find a pro Bono lawyer for civil and criminal case combined in Otero county New Mexico at White Sands Rotary Club.
You pay an attorney at the time you hire him/her. This is called a "retainer". There are two exceptions: When you retain an attorney for the purpose of receiving Social Security benefits, and when the attorney is working "pro bono", or without charge.
Yes, some defense lawyers work pro bono and that is because they need the practice, and some defense lawyers want to help out someone they think needs their help. Although most defense lawyers want a fee for their services, there are a few that do not. Plus, there are those court appointed lawyers that are chosen by the courts if you can not afford a lawyer.
Private criminal pro bono attorneys are few and far between, and they don't advertise. You find them by word of mouth, and they have to be very interested in your case. If you can't afford to hire a lawyer, and your charge could result in incarceration if you are convicted, you are entitled to a Public Defender. The first related link has contact information for all Colorado Public Defender offices. I found it at the second related link, which has links to more legal services, but they are mostly for civil cases.
The term "pro bono is one used by attorneys and means they are providing their services free of charge. So find an attorney that will do that.