The average cost to hire a criminal defense attorney generally ranges from $100 to $350 per hour. Costs can vary, however, depending on the lawyer’s fees and the complexity of the case. Cases that involve more research, pre-trial time and negotiation may cost more.
Typically, you can expect to pay $150 to $700 an hour for a criminal defense lawyer’s time. With an hourly fee structure, it is not uncommon for legal bills to get into the $10,000 to $15,000 range quickly. A lawyer who works on an hourly rate may also require the payment of a retainer fee.
When it comes to your case itself, some attorneys may charge you a flat rate for taking a case — such as $5,000 to $10,000 for a felony crime — but most prefer to charge by the hour, which is typically in the $100 to $300 range.
Jul 24, 2018 · Figuring out how much it costs to hire a criminal defense attorney may depend on two types of fee agreements. A flat fee is an amount of money paid regardless of how much time the lawyer spends defending your case. Often, the fee is paid at the initiation of the contract.
May 21, 2021 · For class C felonies, like third-degree assault or electronic data theft, the average attorney charges between $3,500 and $10,000. Class B felonies (which carry up to 10 years in prison) can cost between $5,000 and $25,000 to hire a criminal defense attorney. And class A felonies, like first-degree murder, rape, and assault with a deadly weapon, cost at least $10,000 …