With a private attorney, we may get to talk to him or her much sooner. During mass direct actions, legal teams are often available to visit with us shortly after arrest. In a large group, we can use solidarity tactics to encourage the authorities to let us see a lawyer. Even if we haven't yet been booked and are just sitting in a holding cell or on a police bus, we can demand to see the legal team. The public defender's office has a staff of lawyers who represent low-income defendants in criminal cases.
Public defenders are often very well-qualified attorneys.
When the public defenders office cannot handle a defendant, the court appoints counsel drawn from a panel of private attorneys paid by the county or federal district to represent low-income defendants. Public defenders and court-appointed private lawyers tend to be very interested in doing political cases, but are rarely familiar with consensus process or solidarity tactics. Many of them have a hard time believing that solidarity tactics can work-in custody or in court. Urge the attorneys to consult with colleagues who are experienced in solidarity-based criminal defense, such as the legal team for the demonstration. Give the lawyers questions and instructions in writing, and ask for responses in writing.