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CostHelper.com > Personal Finance > Felony Defense Attorney
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Felony Defense Attorney Cost |
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How Much Does a Felony Defense Attorney Cost? |
 | Low: Retainers Start Around $5,000-$10,000 |
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 | Medium: Some Lawyers Have a $5,000-$25,000 Minimum |
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 | High: Serious Cases Can Run $25,000+ |
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| Felony crimes range from burglary, or grand theft to carjacking, assault, rape or murder. There are six classes of felony crimes. A Class 1 felony is the most serious, usually carrying a minimum life sentence, while a Class 6 felony generally has a minimum sentence of one year, according to OnlineLawyerSource.com. | | |
| Typical costs: | - The cost of hiring a criminal defense lawyer varies significantly in different areas, and is typically based on the nature and severity of the charges, the complexity of the case, the lawyer's years of experience and reputation, and the size of the law firm, among other factors. Some attorneys offer a free initial consultation to discuss the specific circumstances of your case and what their legal fees will be, while others charge $250 -$500 or more for this session.
- Although some criminal defense attorneys charge a flat fee for a specific type of case, for serious felony crimes most charge by the hour for all services, usually $100 -$300 or more. To hire an attorney, you must pay an up-front fee called a retainer, which is based either on an estimated number of hours or on the flat fee. A lawyer working on an hourly basis deducts that hourly rate from the retainer as the work is done. When the retainer is gone, you will be billed for an additional payment. Retainers for felony crime cases start around $5,000 -$10,000 but can be $25,000 or more for serious cases, according to ExpertLaw.com. Some lawyers charge a minimum fee of $5,000 -$10,000 or more for felony crime cases, regardless of the actual hours worked.
- If you are facing felony charges and can't afford to hire a lawyer, you are legally entitled to a lawyer at no charge to you. The judge will either assign a government public defender or appoint a private attorney to represent you. Nolo Press discusses how to get the court to appoint a lawyer and representing yourself.
What should be included: | - Sentences for those found guilty of felony crimes can range from fines and unsupervised probation to years of prison time. The American Bar Association describes the possible steps in a trial and provides a diagram of how a case moves through the justice system.
- Your attorney is your guide through the legal process, and will be familiar with local court customs and procedures. Anything you tell your attorney is confidential, but your attorney cannot lie to the court for you or knowingly offer a false defense. FindLaw.com explains what a criminal defense lawyer does.
Additional costs: | - Felony trials often require the testimony of expert witnesses, which can add $2,000 -$7,000 or more that is not included in your attorney's fees.
- Attorneys working on an hourly basis charge for any time spent answering your questions on the phone or by e-mail, as well as case-related expenses such as interviews, research or photocopies.
- Attorneys working on a flat fee may have one price for pre-filing defense work (before any charges are filed against you in court), another flat fee for legal assistance up to the preliminary hearing, and yet another fee for representing you in a jury trial. If hiring an attorney on a flat fee basis, be sure you understand what is and is not included, and if there will be additional costs if your case goes to trial.
- Court fees or fines vary widely depending on the charges and location, and are in addition to your attorney's fees.
Shopping for a felony defense attorney: | - When you first meet with an attorney, know the exact charges against you, your court date, your bail amount and any other pertinent facts. Ask about the attorney's education, experience and area of specialty. The Monroe County Bar Association lists questions to ask a prospective felony defense attorney.
- Check with the American Bar Association for lawyer referral services in your state or search for a lawyer specializing in criminal defense in the Martindale-Hubbell Legal Network's Lawyer Locator.
- Your attorney will provide you with a written fee agreement. Read it before signing and keep a copy for your records. Be sure you understand what is covered, and any other fees and expenses you might have to pay.
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Article updated October 2008 |
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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments |
| Costs if you can't afford an attorney |
| Amount: $1,500.00 Total |
| Posted by: Max in Las Vegas, NV. | Posted: May 11th, 2009 11:05AM |
| Type of Case: Felony | Firm: |
| The courts and a part of this article are misleading. The line above reads "If you are facing felony charges and can't afford to hire a lawyer, you are legally entitled to a lawyer at no charge to you." This is not always true. If you cannot afford an attorney, but you earn more than the minimum amount established by the state, you do NOT get an attorney "at no charge to you." The court can order you to appear with an attorney even if you cannot afford one. If you do not appear with an attorney, you can be held in contempt and jailed. In this case, you may lose your job, at which time you can then re-apply for, and be assigned, a public defender. |
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| public defender |
| Amount: $300.00 Total |
| Posted by: pattyfaye62306 in quincy, IL. | Posted: November 17th, 2011 04:11PM |
| Type of Case: felony | Firm: illinois |
i was so called appointed a public defender and i had to apy for him when he did nothing for me if i seen tape on which they had i could of won my own case he was told wat to do by state att. office and i was told if i took a pee bargin and plea guity to one charge other felony wold be dropped and first time offese would be off my record for ever and now they said defeender didnt write that as such so now i ahve to pay for it to come off my records and wish i could find someone to help us in quincy , ill nothing legal here our own governor wont even come hereand state that adams country and that they make up rules and let
i could right a book on how i was treated and how i was promised things when talking to task pple i keep asking for a lawyer and stated i didnt need one and made me promises never keep so i was set out to give adams country 2700.00 4 really nothing and need someone to help me get this off my records ty
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