> If you can not afford one, then get a public defender if they attempt to prosecute you. N.B. this will only apply to criminal prosecution. There is no requi

> If you can not afford one, then get a public defender if they attempt to prosecute you. N.B. this will only apply to criminal prosecution. There is no requirement for the government to provide you with counsel for civil cases. If it does come to that, and you can afford it, I would still suggest a private lawyer. Their win rates are usually better (not that public defender's are bad, I think they're just horribly underfunded and will struggle to give you the amount of their time that you need).