Flat-Rate Criminal Defense Lawyer
Serving Residents in Orange County and Riverside
For many, finding out how much a criminal defense lawyer should cost will allow them to make several important decisions. Those arrested often incur a variety of expenses as a result of their legal trouble before they reach the courtroom. By the time their court date approaches, panic sets in and defendants are forced to make a difficult choice: Will they use the services of a court-assigned public defender, hire an attorney, represent themselves, or ignore the process altogether?
Make no mistake, those facing charges do have options, but with limited funds and little direction, it can be easy to make a choice that is not in your best interest that ends up costing you a lot of money. Although no set amount or average can be used to calculate the exact amount a person should pay for defense services, certain scenarios will regularly result in an increase or decrease in total costs during the duration of any case.
If you have been arrested or charged for a minor or serious offense in Orange County, you need representation from a firm that provides aggressive representation and has a history of success. At the Law Offices of Randy Collins, we provide all of our clients with top-notch legal assistance, many times doing so with up-front fees. With over 45 years of combined experience, we know what you and your case need to be effective, and we provide our low-income clients with all of the benefits that we afford others.
Contact us at (844) 285-9559 today.
What Is a Flat-Rate Criminal Defense Lawyer?
A flat-rate criminal defense attorney is one who offers the assistance you need for one rate. Often, lawyers will charge their clients for phone calls or going to trial. At our firm, all of these charges are incorporated into a total fee for service.
Not everyone is eligible to receive this option, but many people are. This system allows those with a limited amount of money to know exactly how much they will be spending and pay that amount in one sum once they have decided to retain.
The Law Offices of Randy Collins decided to offer certain people this opportunity to level the playing field for lower-income families. In the past, many offenders were turned away due to a lack of funds. As a result of our high level of success providing legal assistance to upper-class citizens, we are in a position to offer our services in special ways to those who qualify.
Who Qualifies?
Several different circumstances can qualify someone for a flat fee. Whether or not you are eligible, you will still be offered a free professional case evaluation to help get you on the right track.
If you have been charged or arrested for any of the following, you have a good chance of obtaining representation from one of our flat-rate criminal defense attorneys:
- DUI/DWI
- Domestic violence
- Burglary
- Drug offenses
- Sex crimes
- Offenses committed by juveniles
To find out whether you qualify, call (844) 285-9559 or fill out our contact form.
Attorney Cost Calculator
As previously stated, calculating the exact amount that lawyers should charge you for representation isn’t possible. This is for several reasons. For one, some criminal defense clients require a lot more attention than others. This does not mean that every attorney is favoring some clients over others and that some are receiving better representation than others, but that some defendant’s cases require more attention to be successful.
For example, if Bob came to our office and told us that he was arrested for murder and just posted bond, we would have to let Bob know that our services are probably going to cost a lot. Now, some people would think that the person in my example is being charged more because it is murder, and that an attorney will charge more because Bob has more of a reason to hire an attorney, but this is not usually correct.
Bob’s legal services would likely cost him an arm and a leg because his case has a high probability of going to trial, which increases a lawyer’s costs exponentially.
There are a lot of situations that can increase the costs of any given case.
If your situation falls under any of the following, your legal services may cost you more:
You Refuse to Accept a Guilty Plea
If you refuse to accept a guilty plea under any circumstance, there are a number of situations in which the price of your legal services could skyrocket. By refusing to plead guilty, you are refusing to accept a plea bargain. A plea bargain allows those who feel that they do not have a very good chance of winning their case to accept a lesser charge or minimal penalties for their crimes. It is a “win-win” for the prosecution and the defense in which the courts reward the defendant for pleading guilty rather than spend court time and money fighting the charges. If there is a large amount of evidence at the prosecution’s disposal to use against the defendant, it is often in their best interest to accept a plea bargain. A skilled criminal defense lawyer can sometimes obtain very favorable results for their clients through plea bargaining. Still, if a client is hell-bent on obtaining a not guilty verdict, then trial is probably a necessity.
Your Case Requires a Trial
Trials are costly. Not only does a trial require more personal attention than other cases, but there are also several costs incurred by handling attorneys during a trial. During trial, lawyers must present evidence in a way that helps prove that their client is innocent. It is not uncommon for an attorney to retain the services of various expert witnesses and private investigators to help prove their claims. These contractors can cost attorneys tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of dollars. In some cases, juries take the opinions of these types of professionals very seriously and take them into consideration when determining a person’s guilt.
You Have a Previous Criminal History
If you have a history of committing crimes, the courts are going to be far less likely to go easy on you. There are several crimes that judges may be happy to give defendants a second chance, but when a person develops a pattern of criminal behavior, the courts are far less likely to be lenient. This is because a criminal history implies that you are likely to repeat your behavior. If you are facing drug charges or misdemeanor offenses, a previous criminal history can change the maximum penalties and make a judge more likely to feel that maximum punishment is necessary. These types of crimes may not have cost you as much as a DUI or domestic violence case, but now they may.
Act Now with No Obligation to Retain Our Services
You can contact our firm for legal advice without retaining our services. Our staff is dedicated to providing Orange County and Riverside residents with resources. If you are looking for straight talk and honest answers from an attorney, calling the Law Offices of Randy Collins is in your best interest.
Finding the right information to make decisions that are in your best interest can be costly and time-consuming. Let our friendly staff walk you through the process and give you the information to make an informed decision about your future.
Contact our team in Orange County at (844) 285-9559 to find out how we can help.