Your Felony Lawyer: Hiring, Fees, and Trust

When you are arrested for a crime, you may need to contact a felony lawyer to see you through the situation. Many such attorneys offer free consultations to potential clients, giving you the chance to feel them out and decide if they meet your defense needs. Make no mistake about it: being charged with more than a misdemeanor is a serious situation, and it is a mistake to go forth without proper legal counsel. Even if you are guilty and have nothing resembling an adequate defense for your actions, a good attorney can see to it that your rights are upheld and may be able to get you a reduced penalty.

There are several approaches to fees when it comes to hiring legal counsel. One felony lawyer may charge a flat rate, billed at the conclusion of their services. Another may bill up front. Still others charge by the billable hour. Finally, there are those who charge on a contingency basis, but this is exceedingly rare, if not unheard of, in the criminal spectrum. If you can afford it, it may prove useful to find someone who charges by the hour. This way, you at least know that your attorney will be working for you as often as possible, even if it isn't strictly for reasons of justice. If you have concerns about how much you will be spending, however, look for someone who charges a flat rate.

When you decide who to hire, don't make the mistake of holding back information. A felony lawyer may or may not be interested in your guilt or innocence. But you shouldn't deliberately hold back information that could come out as a nasty surprise later in a trial. Clients make this mistake all the time, and it is almost never to their benefit. If there is something out there waiting to come out about your guilt, you can bet that the prosecutors are doing everything they can to uncover it. Nine times out of ten, they will. Don't make things harder on your attorney by waiting until then to reveal it.

Trust is a big issue when developing a relationship with a felony lawyer, so don't choose someone you don't think is being honest with you. Likewise, don't hesitate to tell your attorney the truth about your circumstances. Attorney/client privilege is in effect, even during an initial consultation, so you should be forthright and honest when answering questions. Telling lies can only wind up hurting your case which, as noted, could end with disastrous consequences.