The person who acts as their own Lawyer has a fool for a client.
Not always true. In the 90s I was an officer of a startup commercial finance company that became insolvent after a few years, with the result that we went into receivership (the state equivalent of bankruptcy). The receiver immediately filed a very scary lawsuit against the officers and directors claiming potentially tens of millions in damages.
I defended myself pro se (i.e. acted as my own attorney, although I am not a lawyer). I wrote all my own pleadings and mounted a very aggressive procedural war against the receiver and his law firm, and completely bollixed up the high priced attorneys on the other side.
After two years of an aggressive battle, they finally let me out of the law suit for $1,200, and the lawyer for the other side lost her job with the high=priced Boston law firm.
Believe me, pro se defendants have a LOT of procedural advantages that are not available to licensed attorneys.
Of course, this was a civil -- not a criminal -- matter. But still I can assure you that it is often the best strategy to be your own lawyer, assuming you can write, and are occasionally willing to consult with an attorney for advice without having that attorney actually represent you in court.