While in the Phoenix area, most criminal defense attorneys operate on a flat fee basis, that is they accept a flat amount to represent a defendant in a criminal case, potential clients need to be wary of the dangers of lay away law.
Even with a flat fee agreement, a criminal defense attorney needs to estimate how many hours it will take to handle a particular case. Just like in any other business, they need to budget the time, expenses, and resources it will take to handle a project. Even if the fee agreement is not based on an hourly rate, it is always something that is in the back of every criminal defense lawyer’s mind.
You Get What You Pay For
There is always a lawyer who will promise you the moon and stars at a ridiculously low fee. When a client falls for such a ridiculous offer, it’s hard to understand why they are so surprised down the road when the attorney does very little work on the case. Think about it - would you think that the Gucci purse that you bought for $20 out of someone’s trunk is real when the real thing is going for thousands of dollars? You get the point.
Homicide cases are among the most complex and time consuming for any criminal defense attorney to defend. Whether it’s a first-degree murder or a vehicular manslaughter, a lot of time must be spent looking at the details of the case, interviewing witnesses, and consulting with expert witnesses. Hourly rates for criminal defense lawyers range from $200 for a very young and inexperienced attorney who probably shouldn’t be doing a murder case in the first place, to $500 per hour for a veteran criminal defense attorney who has the skill and experience to represent clients charged with serious felony offenses. Bearing this in mind, you can’t seriously expect an attorney who charges a low fee to put a whole lot of time into your case and you certainly can’t expect a good result.
Payment Plans are a Trap
Some lawyers will allow you to pay off your balance with small monthly payments. I call this lay away law. The lawyer will drag out the case until the balance is paid off. But in the meantime, they will likely only do as much work as they’ve been paid for. Do you really want your lawyer to start and stop working on a monthly basis as they wait for your next payment to come in? Of course, you don’t. You want a criminal defense attorney who will work your case aggressively from start to finish. Again, you get what you pay for.
You Need an Honest Lawyer with a Proven Track Record
Jason Lamm has been practicing law for over 25 years. Known for his direct and blunt opinions, he is honest with his clients and works hard from the beginning to the end of a case to get the best possible outcome for his clients in each and every case. While every case is different, his recent results demonstrate his past successes in a wide variety of cases such as white collar crimes, murder, and drug trafficking offenses. If you or someone close to you is dealing with a serious felony case, you need to put Jason’s experience and know-how to work for you.
Call (602) 663-9100 for a personal and confidential consultation.