Whether your lawyer is working on an hourly rate or flat fee, retainers for a criminal defense attorney on drug-related charges start around $2,000-$5,000 for misdemeanors and $5,000-$15,000 for felonies, but can easily be $20,000-$30,000 and more for serious or life felonies, or complex cases that will involve a lot of hours and expert witnesses.
There are two primary factors that govern that cost to defend criminal charges in New York City: (1) the nature of the charges; and (2) the knowledge and experience of the attorney. First, every criminal case is different. The criminal charges vary. The severity of the allegations varies. The evidence varies.
Apr 21, 2022 · After the attorney has used up the retainer, they will charge hourly, with fees often costing $150-$750 per hour. While not as common, some drug lawyers will also work on a flat fee, depending on your charges and how much work the attorney feels your case will require.
How Much Does a Lawyer Cost for Drug Possession? If you are charged with misdemeanor drug possession you can expect to pay anywhere from $2,000 to $3,000. If you are charged with felony drug possession you can expect to pay a retainer of $2,500 and pay a cost of $1,000 per day of trial according to WeSource .
Sep 12, 2021 · The complexity of your case, the charges you face, any prior criminal history, the lawyers criminal defense experience, and any potential specialists are all part of the costs of a good legal defense. When considering a criminal defense attorney, keep in mind that the cost depends on many factors but your freedom is priceless.
State | Low Rate | High Rate |
---|---|---|
New York | $100 | $400 |
North Carolina | $250 | $300 |
North Dakota | $150 | $350 |
Ohio | $95 | $300 |
What is the cost of hiring a criminal defense attorney in New York? This is an inevitably question that all criminal defense lawyers are asked by potential clients.
Second, the experience of a defense attorney matters. What I call the lowest-price-television rule does not apply to hiring a criminal defense lawyer. Think of the high definition TV that you last bought. It didn’t matter if that TV was purchased on Amazon or at Best Buy.
You can expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $300 per hour to hire a criminal defense lawyer according to CostHelper. For example, Thumbtack says, “ if an attorney has a $200 hourly fee, he or she may require a 10-hour retainer fee of $2,000 ”
Expert witnesses and investigators require an average retainer fee of $2,500 and they may charge in excess of $300 per hour. Attorney’s Fees – Attorney’s fees vary depending on several different factors. Here are some of the more important factors that will have an impact on the rate attorney’s charge: Whether the case goes to trial.
Some attorneys and those who are already well known in their practice area will often charge by the hour to their clients as opposed to using a flat rate fee. Additionally, if an appropriate flat fee cannot be determined because or the complexity of a case, the attorney may decide to charge an hourly rate instead .
If you have small amounts designed for personal use you may face a simple misdemeanor, however possession of large amounts may lead to felony possession charges being pressed. In the majority of situations, the distribution of trafficking of drugs is considered to be a felony.
You can expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $300 per hour to hire a criminal defense lawyer according to CostHelper. For example, Thumbtack says, “ if an attorney has a $200 hourly fee, he or she may require a 10-hour retainer fee of $2,000 ”
If you have small amounts designed for personal use you may face a simple misdemeanor, however possession of large amounts may lead to felony possession charges being pressed. In the majority of situations, the distribution of trafficking of drugs is considered to be a felony.
Examples of Felony Drug Charges. Depending on state and federal laws, felony charges can be pressed if the type of drug and the quantity you have is considered “Possession of A Controlled Substance .”. For example, a higher amount of marihuana would be required to face felony charges as opposed to crack cocaine.
Drug charges are serious. First offense felony drug charges normally lead to a minimum of one year in prison as well as fees and fines. A felony conviction for possession can lead up to two years of prison time and fines in four to five figures. As we said earlier, the penalties can differ regarding the amount and type of drug and whether it was being trafficked or sold and if the person is a repeat offender or not. First time offenders may face up to three years in prison and repeat offenders between three and fifteen years with very heavy fines in both cases.
First offense felony drug charges normally lead to a minimum of one year in prison as well as fees and fines. A felony conviction for possession can lead up to two years of prison time and fines in four to five figures.
Immigration Consequences. The immigration status of an individual found guilty of felony drug convictions may be extremely jeopardized. If it is considered a “crime of moral turpitude” an immigrant may face removal or be deported and have their green card taken away.
The primary role of a criminal defense attorney is to represent the defendant (you), who has been accused of a certain crime or already have been charged with a criminal offense.
Usually there are two extremely potent cost-affecting factors when it comes to criminal defense - it is the unique complexity of your case and seriousness of the case.
The cost is also affected by your criminal history. The more legal trouble you've had in the past, the more the lawyer will have to work to make sure that those issues from your past - don't bring you down in the present.
As mentioned before, some lawyers bill by the hour for the provision of their services. This can be beneficial to those clients who know that their case is simple and straightforward.
Before you have your first meeting, you should consider what you want from your defense attorney in the first place. For example:
Now that your first meeting is underway, allow the attorney to begin. They will probably ask a tonne of questions and gather a full picture of the case.
Now that you know everything about what a criminal defense attorney does, what affects the total cost for hiring one, and how to prepare and execute your first meeting. You are well on your way to taking control of your case and improving your chances of victory.
A lawyer may charge a flat fee for a specific phase of the case (such as the preliminary/pretrial hearing and motions) or an hourly rate of $100-$300 or more.
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 [ 2] . There are laws governing all the steps in a criminal case, starting with the investigation, arrest, arraignment and bail procedures.