The Cost of Hiring a Criminal Attorney

A criminal attorney is the legal professional you need to consult with if you have been accused of committing a crime. Do not be tardy in talking with a criminal defense lawyer because the sooner you talk with someone and hire them to handle your case the sooner they can get to work in defending you.

If you have never hired a criminal attorney before then one of the biggest and first concerns to enter your mind may be how much it is going to cost. There is more than one factor that determines the cost for a lawyer. For instance the billing method makes a difference but is not the same for every lawyer. The billing rate for the attorney also makes a difference as does related legal expenses that will be a part of the total that you are required to pay. Another factor that makes a difference to the cost is how you decide to plead (guilty or not guilty) or whether you decide to accept a plea bargain or proceed to trial with your case.

Be aware that how a criminal attorney bills for his time makes as much of a difference as the total amount he charges. In most cases, defense lawyers charge their clients either a flat fee or an hourly fee. This is something you can find out during the initial consultation with the lawyer.

An attorney who has a reputation that is well known and well respected may charge a higher amount than a lesser-known attorney who has less experience and is just starting out in his career. If you have been charged with a very serious crime such as burglary or manslaughter than it would be worth while to pay a little more for the criminal attorney with the higher fees in order to guarantee that you will be defended by the best in the legal field.

It is essential that you discuss all of the fees you will be expected to pay with the criminal attorney before you hire him to represent you. Besides the lawyer fees, some of the other legal expenses that you may be required to foot the bill for include expenses for the time a paralegal spends working on your case, the time an investigator spends researching and uncovering evidence for your defense, photocopying services, travel related expenses and the fee that is charged in connection with an expert witness in the trial.

If a lawyer charges his clients by the hour then you may be required to pay what is known as a retainer fee at the very start. A retainer fee is comparable to a down payment on a mortgage. How lawyers choose to break down hours in regards to payments is not always the same. Some may charge by increments of 15 to 20 minutes while others may charge in increments of five to six minutes.

A criminal defense lawyer who charges his clients a flat fee will expect to be paid upfront. There may be different payment options available to you. Some law offices offer payment plans while others may be less flexible in this regard. Find all of this information out ahead of time.