Consular staff cannot give legal advice, but they can provide you with a list of lawyers, some of whom speak English.  If you cannot afford a private lawyer, the prosecutor should appoint a public defender, but the quality varies and they usually only speak Spanish.  There have been reports of lawyers turning up at court but never actually discussing the case with their client.  If you are not satisfied with a legal aid lawyer, you may change him, with the permission of the court. Additionally, you can denounce the conduct of the lawyer before the Superior Council of the Colombian Bar Association (Disciplinary Section).

There are some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Colombia with lawyers who are prepared to work for free.  However, they tend to focus on human rights issues, rather than cases of drug trafficking, for example.  As in any other country, some lawyers are better than others – including those who charge fees.  If you do pay, it is sensible to agree a flat fee for the whole case before starting or you may find yourself facing ‘extra expenses’.  Ex-prisoners advise talking to other prisoners, as they often know which lawyers to avoid and what hidden costs there might be.