How Much Will a Lawyer Cost Me?
The type and severity of the criminal offense play a primary role in what a lawyer will charge to represent you. Below we have listed the different degrees of criminal offenses here in Florida and provided a breakdown of what a criminal defense lawyer in Orlando and the surrounding counties will typically charge as a range.
The Cost of a Lawyer for Misdemeanor Charges
Second-Degree Misdemeanors
A Second-degree misdemeanor includes simple charges and various first offenses. The average lawyer will charge anywhere from $1,500 to $3,500. The cheaper and inexperienced attorneys will charge as low as $750, while more expensive attorneys will charge about $4-5,000 dollars. Examples of second-degree misdemeanors include:
- Disorderly conduct
- Petit theft
- Trespassing
First-Degree Misdemeanors
A First-degree misdemeanor is a little bit different. They’re more serious because they’re punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 dollar fine. Examples of first-degree misdemeanors include:
- Domestic violence battery
- Resisting arrest without violence
- Possession of marijuana
Many lawyers in Central Florida will charge anywhere between $2000 and $3,500 for a first-degree misdemeanor. You can also hire a cheap lawyer for just under $1,000, or go with a more experienced attorney at $5,000 or more.
How Much Does a Lawyer Cost for Felony Charges?
The cost of a lawyer to defend felony charges depends on the type of charges you are facing.
Third-Degree Felonies
Third-degree felonies, which are punishable by five years in prison, or a $5,000 dollar fine, or five years probation, the average range for a criminal lawyer in central Florida is anywhere between $3,500 to $10,000 dollars.
Second-Degree Felonies
Second-degree offenses are punishable by up to 15 years in prison and you can expect to pay anywhere between $5,000 and $25,000 for legal representation. These type of charges can include:
- Purchase of a controlled substance
- Dealing in stolen property
- Certain theft and fraud charge
First-Degree Felonies
For first-degree felonies, or crimes punishable by death or life in prison, it’s very difficult to give a range of what attorneys quote on those cases due to their severity. However, most will agree that the cost for a first-degree felony is at least $10,000, often more. For the most experienced lawyers, you should expect to pay between $35,000 and $100,000 or even more.
What is The Cost of a DUI Attorney?
DUI is another case that people ask about. Typically, the average attorney quote for a DUI case in Orlando is about $3,500. The range rounds between $2,000 (discount high volume lawyers) and $5,500 with some lawyers charging $7,500 dollars for first DUI. If you’re charged with a second DUI, expect that your rate will be anywhere between $3,500 and $7,500 dollars, with some lawyers charging $10,000 dollars or more. If it’s a third DUI, expect to pay anywhere from $5,500 dollars to about $12,000 with a more experienced DUI lawyer charging over $12,000 dollars.
Do Criminal Defense Law Firms Offer Payment Plans?
A common question that we get from potential clients is if we offer payment plans. It has always been common for lawyers to require payment up front, but over the last several years that has started to change. Today, many criminal defense attorneys have recognized the need for financial assistance and offer payment plans to their clients. Usually, those payment plans will depend on whether it’s a felony or a misdemeanor.
In addition to the type of offense, most attorneys are going to coordinate the payment plan with how long they anticipate the case to take. For example, a misdemeanor, on average, may take anywhere from two to six months and the payment plans will run accordingly. The lawyer in a misdemeanor case will typically ask for a 1-3 month payment plan and in some cases, they will extend it out to six months. On a felony case, payment plans will normally be a little longer as the estimated length of a felony case will take roughly 3 months – 1 year.
Client Considerations for Payment Plans
Every lawyer is different and every lawyer will coordinate a different payment plan. Some lawyers will require more than half down and other lawyers will only take a third down, but most lawyers will take some initial down payment as a sign that you, the client, can afford to pay your attorney fees.
The worse scenario you can find yourself in is that you hire a lawyer and cannot afford to pay him and you end up being in a situation where you had a lawyer work on your case and then that lawyer is forced to withdraw from your case because you’re unable to pay the legal fees.
Choosing the Best Criminal Lawyer For Your Charges
Make sure that you are upfront and honest with your attorney about what you can afford and make sure that you find a criminal defense attorney that’s within your budget. However, just realize that not all lawyers are created equal. Remember, to a lawyer, time is money. A realistic theory is that the less the attorney charges, the less time the attorney will take on your case.
Think Twice Before Hiring the Cheapest Attorney
Don’t be fooled by the arguments of efficiency; that a lawyer will be more efficient than another. If the lawyer charges less per case then it’s very likely the lawyer is going to have a large caseload to generate income and will not be able to give much attention to your case.
Take, for example, the public defender’s office. They don’t charge for their cases, so typically a public defender will have five to 10 times the amount of cases that a private lawyer will have. In theory, if the lawyer only charges $500 dollars a case, as opposed to $1,500, that lawyer will try to take more cases to earn the $1,500 dollars that the more expensive lawyer charges in their cases.
Remember this old adage: you pay for what you get. And when it comes to your civil liberties, civil rights, and your rights under the constitution, you don’t want to take a chance. The legal team at The Umansky Law Firm is diversely talented and experienced in handling a range of criminal offenses. Bring your case to us and we can ensure that you’re paired with the attorney best equipped for your case. Contact us today for a free case evaluation. Allow our team of Board Certified Criminal Trial Lawyers to go to work for you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cost of Hiring a Criminal Defense Lawyer
How much does a lawyer cost for a felony charge?
The cost of a lawyer to defend a felony charge depends on the type of charges you are facing. Third-degree felonies can range anywhere between $3,500 to $10,000 in Florida; Second-degree felonies can range anywhere between $5,000 to $25,000; First-degree felonies are at least $10,000, but expect to pay anywhere between $35,000 to $100,000 or more.
What are criminal defense attorney fees?
Every lawyer is different and every lawyer will coordinate a different payment plan. Some lawyers will require more than half down and other lawyers will only take a third down, but most lawyers will take some initial down payment as a sign that you, the client, can afford to pay your attorney fees.
What is the most expensive type of criminal defense attorney?
The type and severity of the criminal offense play a primary role in what a lawyer will charge to represent you. The more serious the crime (i.e. first-degree felony), the more expensive the criminal defense attorney.
How much does a DUI lawyer cost?
Typically, the average attorney quote for a DUI case in Orlando is about $3,500. The range falls between $2,000 (discount high volume lawyers) and $5,500, with some lawyers charging $7,500 dollars for your first DUI. If you’re charged with a second DUI, your rate may fall between $3,500 and $7,500 dollars, with some lawyers charging $10,000 dollars or more. If it’s a third DUI, you may pay anywhere from $5,500 dollars to about $12,000, but some lawyers may charge more than that. Be sure to discuss the cost of your DUI with your prospective attorney thoroughly.
