What Costs Are Associated With Criminal Defense Lawyers?

Criminal Defense Lawyers Fees

If you were charged with a crime, you may feel overwhelmed and unsure of how you’re going to fight the allegations. You know that you have a right to a lawyer, but how do you manage the costs of an attorney? Here is your rundown of how much it costs to hire a lawyer.

What Is Your Income? 

Your income may determine how much you pay for an attorney. If you do not think that you can afford the cost of a lawyer, then you may receive a court-appointed attorney. It is your right to have a lawyer in a criminal defense case. You cannot be refused based on the amount of money that you have. The difference is that when you have a court-appointed attorney, you do not choose him or her. You have one appointed and you pay nothing for his or her services.-

What Is a Flat Fee?

Some lawyers may charge a flat fee but this is extremely rare when talking about criminal defense lawyers. Criminal defense cases are extremely complicated. Every criminal case is different and the lawyer cannot always predict the amount of work that he or she is going to have to do to help advocate for you. Often, when you are dealing with traffic court or simple cases, the lawyer may charge a flat fee. Most often, lawyers will charge hourly rates when defending against a criminal allegation.

What Are Hourly Rates?

For criminal defense lawyers, hourly rates are the most common. There are so many different costs and factors that may contribute to a lawyer’s case. The unpredictability is why most lawyers charge an hourly rate. Depending on the complexity of your case, your lawyer could be working long hours to advocate for you. In this case, a flat fee may not cover the lawyer’s time or the costs that accompany the case. This is why they need an hourly rate.

The billing rates themselves are going to vary between lawyers. It often depends on the experience and ability of the lawyer. The lawyer may charge anywhere between 150 dollars to 700 dollars an hour. In some instances, a lawyer may require a retainer fee. This fee may cover a specific amount of the lawyer’s time and after that, you would have to pay the hourly rate.

To find out more about the cost, contact a criminal justice lawyer today! No matter your case, you need a Bloomington, IL criminal lawyer when handling complicated criminal matters. All lawyers have varying fees, depending on experience and the case itself.

Thanks to Pioletti, Pioletti & Nichols for their insight into criminal law and costs of an attorney.