What are written representations?
Written representations are how the criminal defence lawyer seeks to convince the Prosecution to either drop the charge against you or to amend the charge such that you face a lighter charge. Your criminal defence lawyer can submit written representations on your behalf to the Prosecution.
Your criminal defence lawyer will include reasons why the charge that you face should be dropped or amended to a lighter charge in the written representations. An example of what the criminal defence lawyer could include in the written representations are how you were gravely provoked before you committed the offence and therefore the charge you face of voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means (i.e. Section 324 of the Penal Code with a maximum jail term of 7 years) should be amended to the lighter charge of voluntarily causing hurt on provocation (i.e. Section 334 of the Penal Code with a maximum jail term of 3 months).
There is real value in hiring a criminal defence lawyer and you should definitely engage one if your financial resources allow you to do so. If your finances are an obstacle to you hiring a criminal defence lawyer on your own, you should apply to the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme (CLAS) to see if you qualify for legal aid. Unable to qualify for legal aid? You can try law firms that offer low bono, i.e. below market rate legal services, such as DMO Law Corporation.
