How Much Will Hiring a Criminal Attorney Cost You?

Dec 2
06:38

2011

Abraham Avotina

Abraham Avotina

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If you have been charged with a crime, you would be foolish to go forward without representation from a criminal attorney.

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If you've been charged with a crime,How Much Will Hiring a Criminal Attorney Cost You? Articles you would be foolish to go forward without representation from a criminal attorney. You need someone who knows the law and will be on your side when the fur starts to fly. The prosecutor may be interested in justice, but only from the standpoint of believing that he has the right man. Therefore, he will do everything within his power to see that you are convicted. You can't fight that kind of pressure yourself. Getting a lawyer is necessary, but it might not be cheap. Here are some things to consider when it comes to how much you'll have to pay.

Billing by the Hour

There are a couple of different methods a criminal attorney will use when billing his clients. In one scenario, he will bill by the hour. This means putting the client on the clock, so to speak, anytime he is working on that client's case. There are certain laws that govern how a firm bills in this fashion. In most cases, a lawyer will ask for a retainer fee in these situations. He will withdraw money from this fee as the hours pile up. If the money is depleted, you will be asked to pay another retainer fee. You should be presented with an itemization at some point of all the hours the firm has dedicated to your case.

Flat Rate

You may be more comfortable working with a criminal attorney who charges a flat rate. Certainly, you won't have any billing surprises when working with a lawyer who bills in this way. On the other hand, you may not have any way to know how much time has been spent on your case. If you're working with a lawyer who has a good reputation and seems to be prepared and exceptionally competent, this may not matter, however. One thing to consider, though, is that lawyers will rarely refund a flat fee should you be unhappy with their work.

Free

At some point, you should have been told that the court would provide a criminal attorney to you if you can't afford one on your own. Usually, this means you will be paired with a public defender, although in some cases you may be fortunate enough to get a defense lawyer working pro bono. In either situation, however, you can be sure that your case will not get your lawyer's full attention. It's better than nothing, but don't expect a miracle out of your free lawyer.

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