Finding a Lawyer & Associated Costs
September, 2010
Should I expect a lawyer to guarantee a good result?
Toasters come with guarantees; Lawyers don't. Steer clear of lawyers who guarantee satisfactory outcomes. A lawyer who guarantees a good result may simply be trying a hard-sell tactic to induce you to hire her.
How to find a lawyer
Recently arrested people often need to talk to a lawyer as soon as possible. The most urgent priority is often getting a lawyer to help arrange release and provide some information about what's to come in the days ahead.
If you have been represented by a criminal defense lawyer in the past, that is usually the lawyer to call-as long as you were satisfied with his services. If you have no previous experience with criminal defense lawyers, you can look to the following sources for a referral:
1. Lawyers you know. Most lawyers do civil (non criminal) work, such as divorces, drafting wills, filing bankruptcies or representing people hurt in accidents. If you know any Lawyer that you trust, ask him to recommend a criminal defense lawyer. (Some lawyers who do civil work can also represent clients in criminal matters, at least for the limited purpose of arranging for release from jail following an arrest.)
2. Family members or friends. Someone close to you may know of a criminal defense lawyer or may have time to look for one.
3. Courthouses. You can visit a local courthouse and sit through a few criminal hearings. If a particular lawyer impresses you, ask for his/her card after the hearing is over, and then call for an appointment.
What is a private lawyer likely to cost?
It's impossible to give a definitive answer. Lawyers set their own fees, which vary according to a number of factors:
- The complexity of a case
- The Lawyer's experience.
- Geography.
According to a survey of readers reported in the February, 1996 issue of Consumer Reports, the median legal fee charged by lawyers in criminal cases was $1,500. Many defendants can expect to pay more than this, however. A defendant charged with a minor offense should not be surprised by a legal fee in the neighborhood of $3,000-$5,000; a Lawyer may want $15,000-$25,000 in a serious case. And most Lawyers want all or a substantial portion of the fee paid up front.
