There are many cases in which criminal law lawyers are indispensable defenseadvocates most common drug cases involve cannabis cocaine and heroin. Criminal Defense LawyersChicago legal defense in a civil or criminal case, or both, this is the type of counsel you will need to seek. If you are not able to pay for a lawyer upon the time of your arrest, you will be appointed one through the state who will stand for you at your initial arraignment. This will not last throughout the duration of your legal battle, however, you will need to find a way of retaining a criminal law lawyer of your own before your trial begins.