We charge flat fees for Criminal Law

When we accept a criminal case, we take on the liability for that case.  We cannot control whether a Judge will ever let us off the case once we enter our appearance. A retainer covers all aspects of your case until it is time to set the case for trial.  For a felony case, that covers all court dates through a preliminary hearing.  We try to put the best offer on the table prior to the preliminary hearing, and typically offers do not improve once the DA has to prepare for the preliminary hearing.  Sometimes we need to file a motion to suppress evidence at that preliminary hearing, which would be covered under the retainer.  If the Judge finds enough evidence to send your case forward to trial, the arraignment would be 20 days following the preliminary hearing.  If you decide to pay for the trial fee, we would be in a position to set the case after that arraignment.  If you decide you do not want to pay for the trial fee, you just need to allow us to withdraw so you can take your chances with the public defender.  For a misdemeanor, that means exhausting all of our options and putting the best offer on the table for you.  If you choose to go to trial, you can either choose to pay the trial fee or allow us to withdraw and take your chances with the public defender.  

Misdemeanor case - $2,500 retainer. Trial cap at $25,000

Felony Case - $4,000 retainer. Trial cap depending upon the case

First DUI - $3,500 retainer

Second DUI - $4500 retainer

Third + DUI - $6,000 retainer

DV cases - $7,500 retainer

Complex felony drug case - $7,500 retainer

Probation violation - $1,000

Expungement - $1,000 

Going to trial is very expensive because it takes so much effort.  Depending on how much work your case will take goes into how much the trial cap is going to be.  We may not know that before we are retained, often times we need to see the evidence to get a realistic idea of what to expect.  We will be transparent with you about how much that is going to be.  If you decide you do not want to pay the trial fee, you are not obligated to.  But the retainer would cover all the work we do up to the point where you make that decision.