Hiring a criminal defense lawyer can be one of the best decisions you ever make for yourself. Often, it’s a decision that means the difference between jail time, financial penalties, or other consequences versus having a second chance and securing your freedom. When you’re hiring a criminal defense lawyer in Snohomish, you’ll consider the overall cost of hiring their services, but it’s also important to consider how they charge.
Criminal Defense Lawyers in Snohomish: How They Bill Their Clients
Different payment structures mean different experiences. Here are relatively common billing models employed by criminal lawyers.
Hourly Rates
Some lawyers charge by the hour, and this rate can vary depending on the complexity of your case. You’ll be responsible for paying for all the work the attorney does. This includes the time they spend on collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses, court appearances, and other crucial tasks.
Hourly rates for criminal lawyers vary significantly depending on the lawyer’s experience, area of expertise, reputation, location, and many other factors.
Flat Fees
With flat fees, your lawyer will charge one overall fee for their services. This approach is often used for less complicated cases or those with a fairly predictable outcome. For example, a straightforward case wherein you plan to plead guilty is one that might involve a flat fee.
Contingency Fees
Contingency fees are a percentage of the client’s winnings or settlement amount that goes to the lawyer. Because we’re discussing criminal cases in this article, it’s worth pointing out that these arrangements are less likely in these cases because they tend to be used in civil suits instead.
However, some criminal attorneys may offer contingency fees for certain types of cases where there is a potential for financial restitution or compensation.
What are Retainers?
Another important topic relating to criminal lawyers and how they bill is retainers. When you pay a retainer for legal services, this is essentially a lump sum that you pay upfront and then a lawyer will draw from this retainer for their services. When retainer funds run out, they need to be replenished for your lawyer to continue working on your case.
Choosing the Right Payment Structure
While it’s important to know you can afford your lawyer, you shouldn’t base your decision solely on cost. A criminal lawyer dedicated to you who has experience fighting charges like those you face is an invaluable asset. Just as you would quality over price in other areas of your life, don’t make price the sole deciding factor here.
Speak with a qualified criminal attorney at Snohomish Law Group to assess the nature and complexity of your case and learn more about billing. We offer free consultations to provide you with the answers you need right off the bat.
