What is a Flat Fee or Hourly Fee?

There are two basic fee agreements for legal services: 1) a flat fee and 2) or an hourly fee. A flat fee agreement is a minimum fee charged by an attorney for legal representation. A flat fee is typically established that will carry you through the trial court level or through a particular stage of the trial court process. The flat fee may increase for certain events in the trial process such as a jury trial, or an appeal.

A hourly fee agreement typically requires the client to pay a retainer into a trust account. The attorney charges his hourly rate against the retainer fee. If the case is resolved for less than the retainer fee, the client receives money back at the end of the case. If the case involves work that exceeds the retainer fee, based upon the hourly rate, the client shall be responsible for the additional fees beyond the retainer. A second retainer fee may be required for certain events in the trial process, such as a jury trial or an appeal.

Choosing the Right Fee Agreement

If you pay an expensive flat fee, but your case resolves easily or quickly, then you will have paid too much. On the other hand, a straight hourly rate leaves the client with no specific expectation of the cost of his/her case.

Our fees are set based upon the nature of the charges and a realistic expectation of the work involved. We have different types of payment plans and fee arrangements. Our fee agreements are designed with two items in mind: (1) that the clients will know exactly what is the cost for their representation; (2) and to provide the client control in how much they wish to spend. All of our fee agreements are in writing and each client receives a copy.

Payment Plans

We recognize that the expense associated with the defense of a criminal or drunk driving case can be overwhelming. Although in most cases, we require a flat fee or retainer prior to beginning our representation, we may offer payment plan options. Whatever your financial situation may be, please feel free to contact us regarding your case. We are here to help you.

We accept major credit cards, pay pal, and payment plans may be available.