Should I get lawyer representation for a desk appearance ticket?

There are many thisngs that would make it important for you to have an attorney at a desk appearance.  One thing would obviously be what the desk appearance is for, drugs, etc. would make an attorney useful.  Also your prior record  may come into play here and your attorney can help negate that.

Some people can and do effectively represent themselves for basic tickets.  However, keep in mind that whenever you appear in cour to talk to the judge or the proscutor, there is always a potentential that any comments you make will be used against you.  So...before you decide to hire or not hire an attorney for a ticket, you may want to appear in court, make no comments about the facts of your case, but simply tell the court you are appearing and that you would like to receive an idea of what the prosecutor is offering before you formally hire an attorney.  Once you have the offer, arrange for a consultation with an attorney in your area to see if you are getting a good deal or not.  If you can live with the deal, then you may want to proceed unrepresented.  However, I strongly suggest representation for any offense or charge that could appear on your record later.  Many people do not understand the other ramifications of pleading guilty or no-contest to a ticket and being found guilty.  If your ticket is for a basic assault, Class C, a nursing board could potentially exclude you from taking your final exams.  If you plea to a basic theft charge, an employer could exclude you from employment because you now have a theft conviction.  The number of people that enter plea agreements in municipal courts without understanding the full effect of their pleas is startling.  When you talk to an attorney, make sure they understand your current career situation and future career goals so they can properly assist you in deciding how to handle your case.