What will an attorney do for me that I can't do for myself?

That depends on what the client wants. Sometimes criminal charges make a client very nervous. The client would prefer not to have to speak on his or her own behalf. The client wants the attorney to do that.

Normally, the client is not sophisticated in legal issues. The client wants to know what the law is, whether there was a valid arrest, whether the scientific evidence obtained by the prosecution is admissible at trial, and whether the client should proceed to trial or enter a plea of guilty. The decision is the decision of the client; however, the information necessary for the client to make that decision is provided by the attorney.

Finally, some clients want to proceed to trial. Even if the defendant is an attorney, it is inadvisable for the attorney to represent himself or herself. An independent attorney is the client's best alternative.