Replying to CPM (criminal possession) in New York State Advice

Basicly me and two friends got cought burning a j out in/near my car the other night, also the cops went thew my car found about a little less than an 8th.  Did the whole thing cuffed brought in printed up, ended up with a CPM, criminal possession of Marijuana charge, we cooperated a lot they let us out on 50 bucks bail each and we have a court date the 15th of November.  Its a misdameaner so we don't want it on our records.  We all have the same charge.

Before you jump to conclusions were not 14 year old dudes.  Were all college graduates, pretty straight laced one of us is getting an mba in accounting, I have a real finance job, my other buddy's getting his teaching masters in history, so basically we all have out heads on straight, just one those  wrong place at the wrong time stories.  Its all our first offense for anything so were trying to get an ACD for a few months so the charged is dropped.  Not sure if we should get a lawyer, none of us can really afford a grand on one anyways. 

Anyone been in this situation and had a positive outcome?  With all the 'got cought smoking WEED' threads on here figured someone might have dealt with this before.   Cant believe I'm coming to NS for advice ha-never thought Id see the day.
thanks-