History Main / OnlyBadGuysCallTheirLawyers

* ''LawAndOrder'': There's about a 50/50 chance that someone who declines a lawyer and says "I've got nothing to hide" is implied to be bluffing.

* In MassEffect2, at least half of Elias Kelham's dialogue when you have him arrested consists of "I want to see my lawyer." The other half consists of "Come on, hit me. I dare you."
* Most crime dramas deliberately invoke this trope. The detectives will try to convince someone that as long as they talk freely and don't ask for a lawyer, they won't be suspect. The true motive, of course, is to get them to reveal their guilt or other pertinent information that a lawyer would keep them quiet about.

* Averted and played straight at the same time in an episode of Law and Order. The police have a list of suspects that they want to get blood samples from. Everyone agrees except one guy, who is promptly arrested as no one else matched and immediately asks for his lawyer and it goes to trial. Later, it turns out he was completely innocent and just thought the taking of his blood was an unnecessary intrusion on his privacy. When he asks [=McCoy=] for an apology, [=McCoy=] refuses, and chastises ''him'' for wasting their time!
* One {{Shark}} episode featured a serial killer named Wayne Callison dismissing his lawyer and making his own defense against five murder charges and an attempted murder. Prosecutor Sebastian Stark feared having no lawyer would help Callison look innocent.
* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8z7NC5sgik Here's a lecture]] by a lawyer for a Viginia law school averting the trope. Even the ''Police Detective'' agrees with him!
* RealLife: In the United States, at least (may be true in other countries):
** If the police appear to think that you have committed a crime (and especially if they've actually arrested you), you should definitely not say anything to them except for asking to see a lawyer, as "anything you say may be used ''against'' you in a court of law," no matter how innocuous you think it may be.
*** The phrase actually has a double meaning. Most people realize that if you say something incriminating, it is admissible as evidence, but it more specifically means that ''anything'' you say can be used against you, even if what you say is innocuous, such as a person who knows they are innocent, and can prove it saying in an annoyed manner "I didn't do anything wrong, can I go now?" The police are fully within their rights to present the following testimony in court: "Mr. Troper seemed uneasy, despite claiming he had nothing to hide, yet constantly asked to be released, as if he ''did'' have something to hide. After all, why would a seemingly innocent man be so nervous around police?" There's even a 45 minute long video on of a lawyer and a former police officer lecturing several law students, telling them that whenever they have a client, the best piece of advice they can give their client, even if he or she is innocent, is to ''never'' speak to cops if they've been arrested, ''especially'' without their lawyer. Not even to say "I didn't do anything wrong." The video can be seen [[http://www.boingboing.net/2008/07/28/law-prof-and-cop-agr.html here]].
*** Of course, some countries have the opposite policy - in the United Kingdom, on arrest, the suspect is told that he should not withhold any information that he will later rely on in court.
----

This, however, has no bearing on RealLife. Any Law teacher can tell you that if you're arrested or the police think you committed a crime, you shouldn't talk to them except to ask for a lawyer. In TV Land, only one or two crimes ever happen at the same time, while in reality, there are [[{{Understatement}} a lot more]]. You may want to help the police catch a crook, but in doing so, you may accidentally implicate yourself in another crime, ''or the same crime''. See also BeAsUnhelpfulAsPossible.

* Stated as true by JohnHamm's character in ''Film/TheTown''. Semi-lampshaded in that he prefaces it with saying "it isn't a very civil libertarian thing" for him (a cop) to say.

* RealLife: In the United States, at least (may be true in other countries):
** If the police appear to think that you have committed a crime (and especially if they've actually arrested you), you should definitely not say anything to them except for asking to see a lawyer, as "anything you say may be used ''against'' you in a court of law," no matter how innocuous you think it may be.
*** The phrase actually has a double meaning. Most people realize that if you say something incriminating, it is admissible as evidence, but it more specifically means that ''anything'' you say can be used against you, even if what you say is innocuous, such as a person who knows they are innocent, and can prove it saying in an annoyed manner "I didn't do anything wrong, can I go now?" The police are fully within their rights to present the following testimony in court: "Mr. Troper seemed uneasy, despite claiming he had nothing to hide, yet constantly asked to be released, as if he ''did'' have something to hide. After all, why would a seemingly innocent man be so nervous around police?" There's even a 45 minute long video on of a lawyer and a former police officer lecturing several law students, telling them that whenever they have a client, the best piece of advice they can give their client, even if he or she is innocent, is to ''never'' speak to cops if they've been arrested, ''especially'' without their lawyer. Not even to say "I didn't do anything wrong." The video can be seen [[http://www.boingboing.net/2008/07/28/law-prof-and-cop-agr.html here]].
*** Of course, some countries have the opposite policy - in the United Kingdom, on arrest, the suspect is told that he should not withhold any information that he will later rely on in court.

This, however, has no bearing on RealLife. Any Law teacher can tell you that if you're arrested or the police think you committed a crime, you shouldn't talk to them except to ask for a lawyer. In TV Land, only one or two crimes ever happen at the same time, while in reality, there are [[{{Understatement}} a lot more]]. You may want to help the police catch a crook, but in doing so, you may accidentally implicate yourself in another crime. See also BeAsUnhelpfulAsPossible.

[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8z7NC5sgik Here's a lecture]] by a lawyer for a Viginia law school averting the trope. Even the ''Police Detective'' agrees with him!
----

This, however, has no bearing on RealLife. Any Law teacher can tell you that if you're arrested or the police think you committed a crime, you shouldn't talk to them except to ask for a lawyer. In TV Land, only one or two crimes ever happen at the same time, while in reality, there are [[{{Understatement}} a lot more]]. You may want to help the police catch a crook, but in doing so, you may accidentally implicate yourself in another crime. See also BeAsUnhelpfulAsPossible.

* Subverted in ''{{HomicideLifeOnTheStreet}}''.The "Documentary" Episode discussed this at length by implying that it is only natural for a man,even an innocent one,who has been arrested,accused of a Violent crime,dealing with hostile or indifferent officers and generally terrified to ask for an Attorney though They also show that the reason many Criminals don't ask for Legal Aid is that They fear being charged without saying Their piece or offering an explanation

*** The phrase actually has a double meaning. Most people realize that if you say something incriminating, it is admissible as evidence, but it more specifically means that ''anything'' you say can be used against you, even if what you say is innocuous, such as a person who knows they are innocent, and can prove it saying in an annoyed manner "I didn't do anything wrong, can I go now?" The police are fully within their rights to present the following testimony in court: "Mr. Troper seemed uneasy, despite claiming he had nothing to hide, yet constantly asked to be released, as if he ''did'' have something to hide. After all, why would a seemingly innocent man be so nervous around police?" There's even a 45 minute long video on Youtube of a lawyer and a former police officer lecturing several law students, telling them that whenever they have a client, the best piece of advice they can give their client, even if he or she is innocent, is to ''never'' speak to cops if they've been arrested, ''especially'' without their lawyer. Not even to say "I didn't do anything wrong."

In fact, this trope is so pervasive that its {{Subverted}} just as often as it is played straight. The bad guy may refuse to call his lawyer, just to throw the detectives off his scent. Or, someone completely innocent may call his lawyer, simply because he knows his rights.

* Averted and played straight at the same time in an episode of Law and Order. The police have a list of suspects that they want to get blood samples from. Everyone agrees except one guy, who is promptly arrested as no one else matched and immediately asks for his lawyer and it goes to trial. Later, it turns out he was completely innocent and just thought the taking of his blood was an unnecessary intrusion on his privacy. When he asks McCoy for an apology, McCoy refuses, and chastises ''him'' for wasting their time!

** But subverted, because people who lawyer up turn out to be innocent about half the time.

*** The phrase actually has a double meaning. Most people realize that if you say something incriminating, it is admissible as evidence, but it more specifically means that ''anything'' you say can be used against you, even if what you say is innocuous, such as a person who knows they are innocent, and can prove it saying in an annoyed manner "I didn't do anything wrong, can I go now?" The police are fully within their rights to present the following testimony in court: "[[ThisTroper Mr. Troper]] seemed uneasy, despite claiming he had nothing to hide, yet constantly asked to be released, as if he ''did'' have something to hide. After all, why would a seemingly innocent man be so nervous around police?" There's even a 45 minute long video on Youtube of a lawyer and a former police officer lecturing several law students, telling them that whenever they have a client, the best piece of advice they can give their client, even if he or she is innocent, is to ''never'' speak to cops if they've been arrested, ''especially'' without their lawyer. Not even to say "I didn't do anything wrong."

This, however, has no bearing on RealLife. Any Law teacher can tell you that if you're arrested or the police think you committed a crime, you shouldn't talk to them except to ask for a lawyer. In TV Land, only one or two crimes ever happen at the same time, while in reality, there are [[{{Understatement}} a lot more]]. You may want to help the police catch a crook, but in doing so, you may accidentally implicate yourself in another crime.

** If the police appear to think that you have committed a crime (and especially if they've actually arrested you), you should definitely not say anything to them except for asking to see a lawyer, as "Anything you say may be used against you in a court of law".
** If the police don't appear to think you did anything wrong (e.g., if they're asking you about what you saw as a witness to a crime), it's probably safe to talk to them. Of course, they might end up arresting you anyway, but that's always a risk.

This, however, has no bearing on RealLife. If you're arrested or the police think you committed a crime, you shouldn't talk to them except to ask for a lawyer. In TV Land, only one or two crimes ever happen at the same time, while in reality, there are [[{{Understatement}} a lot more]]. You may want to help the police catch a crook, but in doing so, you may accidentally implicate yourself in another crime.

Examples:

In crime dramas, when someone is arrested, he is read his MirandaRights, "You have the right to remain silent," "You have the right to an attorney," etc. It seems, however, that all good, law-abiding citizens are willing to waive their rights and talk to the police without any qualms at all. But as soon as someone demands a lawyer, or refuses to talk without one, you know instantly that he is a sleezeball. Maybe not the one the police is actually looking for, but he is definitely someone of ill repute.

In fact, this trope is so pervasive that its {{Subverted}} just as often as it is played straight. The bad guy may not call his lawyer, just to throw the detectives off his scent. Or, someone completely innocent may call their lawyer, simply because they know their rights.

* LawAndOrder: There's about a 50/50 chance that someone who declines a lawyer and says "I've got nothing to hide" is implied to be bluffing.

* On ''NYPDBlue'' the detectives would regularly play good cop on a perp, saying he should confess and he'll get a lighter sentence, etc. They'd do practically anything to keep someone from calling their lawyer.
-->Perp Bob: I know my rights...
-->Detective Alice: Oh, now, you don't want to do that. If you call a lawyer I can't help you.
** No matter how much they hated the perp for perping they tried to come off as friendly...until they got the confession.
* Generally averted on ''TheRockfordFiles.'' Jim Rockford, the protagonist, and clear good guy, would always immediately request to speak to an attorney after being arrested. Conversely, total sleezeball Angel Martin always tried to talk immediately.

* Very prevalent in ''{{Castle}}''. If a suspect is the least bit law-saavy, the characters will state to themselves, "He's lawyering up." and treat it as the worst thing in the world that he is even allowed to do this.
* Subverted in an episode LawAndOrderSVU when a criminal waives his right to an attorney and chooses to confess. [[spoiler:It turns out he already had a pending case, and since his lawyer wasn't present, the confession and everything that follows are inadmissible.]]
* WithoutATrace had an innocent man confess to a crime after hours of PerpSweating; Viv suggested he might be innocent because he didn't ask for his lawyer during that whole time.
* RealLife: In the U.S. at least (may be true in other countries):

** If the police don't appear to think you did anything wrong (e.g. if they're asking you about what you saw as a witness to a crime), it's probably safe to talk to them. Of course they might end up arresting you anyway, but that's always a risk.