One of the biggest concerns for someone who is looking to hire a criminal defense attorney is the cost involved. It is a very understandable concern as usually hiring a criminal defense attorney is an unplanned event that occurs when something bad, such as an arrest or a visit from law enforcement, happens to them or their loved one.
In this blog, I will explain how criminal defense attorney fees are usually structured and how most people are always better off hiring an experienced and affordable criminal defense attorney to handle a criminal case.
Flat Fees Retainers
An affordable criminal defense attorney will work on what is called a flat fee retainer. This means that they will charge one sum for handling either all or a portion of a criminal case. This means that it does not matter how much time an attorney will spend on your case, the fee will not change. An experienced criminal defense attorney will be able to assess in advance how much time and labor will be associated with any particular case after an initial consultation.
This often relieves the stress for clients as they do not have to fear that they will get a call from their lawyer saying that the case took more time than anticipated and the lawyer needs more money. That can make an affordable criminal defense attorney no longer affordable.
At our firm, we have a steadfast policy to honor the fee quoted to a client. That means if we quote a price for a case, that is the price and not a dollar more. If the case takes more time than we anticipated then that is not the client's fault and we do not charge extra. We pride ourselves on being experienced and affordable criminal defense attorneys who honor our commitment to our clients.
Prior to hiring a criminal defense attorney. Make sure to ask if the fees are fixed or subject to change. Only then can you be sure of what your cost will be and that you are in fact hiring an affordable criminal defense attorney.
Payment Plans
Our firm offers our clients various payment options, including the ability to pay for the cost of our services over time. Not every firm does and it is important to ask the attorney that question before making an appointment for a consultation. Some criminal defense attorneys will ask for all their fees up front on a criminal case. We also accept credit cards for attorney's fees, but not all firms do. This is something that you can ask up front of any criminal defense attorney who you want to meet with regarding your criminal case.
Experience Counts
When seeking out an affordable criminal defense attorney, it is always a good idea to make sure that you are hiring someone qualified to handle your case. An attorney who is straight out of law school may be cheaper and seem like an affordable criminal defense attorney but in reality, that attorney may not be able to properly handle your case and will end up costing you much more.
Also, beware of “chop shop” law offices that will charge very little and in return offer very little back. If the criminal defense attorney works on volume and charges very little, it may seem like you have found an affordable criminal defense attorney, but the service that you are getting is not much better than what you would get from the public defender.
An Experienced and Affordable Criminal Defense Attorney
Having been in the field of criminal defense for over 20 years, we pride ourselves on our proven track record of success and happy clients. Part of our approach to criminal defense is not only to be great attorneys but to also be affordable to our clientele. Our best source of business is referrals from past clients and there is nothing that we hold dearer than our relationships with those clients. If you or a loved one are charged with a crime call us today for a free consultation and case review. We can be reached at 818 325-0570 or by email here.
Comments
There are no comments for this post. Be the first and Add your Comment below.
Leave a Comment