text: do i hire a lwyer or plead my case?  finals are coming and i can't miss them.? i had to do 20 hrs. public service work for a bad check to sonic. i went to court--paid the restitution, and the fine, went to a hot check class but i am in college in another city and could not get the public service work performed by the end of probation. now i find i had an arrest warrant so i pd. the bond ($420) for a court date and have to go to court. i am not a criminal. do i need a lawyer? first, i suggest that you are there for your court date.    second, if the failure to complete community serviced could result in imprisonment, you have a right to counsel, and the state has to afford you an attorney.  third, my guess is that depending on the judge you will probably get additional time to complete the service if you ask and explain your circumstances.  fourth, you do want to make sure that this is taken care of properly because having a criminal record- yes, this is creating a criminal record- can make it difficult to obtain jobs or apartments, etc.