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.Mar 18, 2019
To further this goal, the losing side doesn't usually pay the winning side's attorney's fees. In the United States, the rule (called the American Rule) is that each party pays only their own attorneys' fees, regardless of whether they win or lose. Even so, exceptions exist.
If the attorney loses the case, the client is still responsible for legal fees as stipulated in the original retainer contract. Some attorneys may agree to withhold billing until the end of a case, but they will still expect payment regardless of how the case ends.Apr 22, 2019
Answer. In a contingency fee arrangement, the lawyer who represents you will get paid by taking a percentage of your award as a fee for services. If you lose, the attorney receives nothing. This situation works well when you have a winning lawsuit.
30 years experience in helping clients with their criminal defense needs.
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Experienced criminal defense attorneys protecting the rights of our clients.
Strong, Caring Representation when you need it most. Been charged with a crime? Call us today. We can help!
You've come to the right place. Whether you were arrested for a crime against a person (like assault and battery or murder), a crime against property (like shoplifting, burglary, or arson), or any other criminal offense, a criminal defense attorney can help.
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It is always a good idea to research your lawyer prior to hiring. Every state has a disciplinary organization that monitors attorneys, their licenses, and consumer complaints. By researching lawyer discipline you can:
Being charged with a crime can be extremely overwhelming, confusing and frightening, especially if you are unfamiliar with the charges you are facing or the process you are about to go through.
The sooner you call us, the sooner we can start helping you. Call 478-216-3074 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.
I bring my attention to detail and knowledge of the law to a wide variety of criminal cases in Macon and surrounding Middle Georgia communities, including drunken driving charges. There are many possible favorable outcomes in DUI cases, and I will explore each one to find the best resolution in your case.
I also provide vigorous, results-oriented representation for people facing the following criminal charges:
Our conversation about the charges against you can begin with a free, 30-minute initial consultation. You can call 478-238-9714 or use my online form to get started.
At the law firm of C. Alan Wheeler, P.C., we believe that individuals who are charged with drug crimes throughout Georgia need the strongest defense possible. They deserve to have their rights upheld and to have a chance at overcoming the challenges before them.
Law enforcement must follow strict protocols when investigating and arresting individuals on suspicion of drug crimes. An investigation typically involves searching an individual’s property — something that can only be done lawfully with a search warrant or probable cause.
A criminal defense attorney can evaluate a criminal case and the evidence and determine whether there are grounds to file a motion to dismiss. There may be grounds for dismissing charges that are not mentioned here. The attorney also can contact and try to convince the prosecutor to dismiss the charges or try to negotiate an agreement to dismiss.
If a key witness in a criminal case is unavailable to testify or the prosecution loses important physical evidence, the prosecutor may have no choice but to dismiss the case because there is not enough evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. In some cases, physical evidence is so important that, without it, the prosecutor cannot prove the case. If a witness disappears, dies, or refuses to testify on Fifth Amendment grounds (because his testimony may incriminate him, in that it shows that he also committed a crime), the prosecutor may not have enough evidence without the witness' testimony.
The first task for a defense attorney in a criminal case is to determine whether there are any grounds on which the case could be dismissed before a plea or trial. Some grounds for dismissal include: lack of evidence to prove the defendant committed the crime.
an unavailable witness who is necessary to prove defendant committed the crime, and. loss of evidence necessary to prove defendant committed the crime. Occasionally, cases are dismissed after the defendant has gone to trial, lost, and won an appeal.
Prosecutors can dismiss charges "without prejudice," which allows the prosecutor to re-file the case at a later date within a certain time period. A prosecutor might agree to dismiss a minor charge as long as the defendant does not pick up any new charges or get into any trouble within one year.
Courts can hear only those cases that they have the power to hear, which is given to them by legislators and the constitution. Now and then, a court oversteps its bounds and hears a case it has no right to hear. For example, federal courts can try cases that arise on federal property, but not state property. Imagine a robbery on land that the federal trial court thinks is owned by the government, but it turns out (on appeal) that the property is state land. The federal appellate court would overturn the conviction (leaving the state free to charge the offense in state court). A trial in state court would not involve a violation of double jeopardy, because the federal and state courts are different sovereigns.
Courts can hear only those cases that they have the power to hear, which is given to them by legislators and the constitution. Now and then, a court oversteps its bounds and hears a case it has no right to hear. For example, federal courts can try cases that arise on federal property, but not state property.