What is the Cost of Houston Criminal Defense Lawyer Fees?
If the number one concern of criminal law defendants is the trouble they are in, usually, the number two concern is what is the cost of criminal defense lawyer fees in Texas.
Nobody budgets for the unexpected cost of hiring a criminal defense attorney.
The short answer to how much criminal defense lawyers cost in Houston is not very satisfying: It depends. On the experience, ability, and credentials of the criminal lawyer. And on the facts of the case. Some cases require just attorney fees. Other cases may involve significant court costs and necessary investigation fees.
What Does Bill Stradley Charge for Legal Fees?
Please give him a call at (713) 224-5455 or fill out the contact form to schedule an appointment with Bill Stradley to discuss the details of your case and the appropriate fee. We wish we could put a price list on our webpage like you can for some products, but legal services done professionally do not have a cookie-cutter solution.
We believe our fees are reasonable for the client-service, experience, judgment, and ability we provide. To give you a sense of them, we don’t charge the most in Houston or the least, but we believe we provide great value for the money.
You do not get some associate learning the law on your case. You will have a lawyer that is Board Certified in Criminal Law helping you out.
For a certain fee as written in our contract, you receive personalized service from Bill Stradley, and further assistance from others on an as needed basis if your case is particularly time-consuming. Sometimes your type of case requires bringing another legal specialist in, like a Family Law attorney, and we tailor your defense for your particular needs.
We intentionally do not have a big-advertising, high-volume practice. Clients who choose us are paying for personal attention and expertise for their case.
Meet With Your Lawyer in Person
Whether you hire us or not, we suggest that you do not call random lawyers and just say, “How much do you charge for _______?” If you chase the smallest quote without considerations of quality and ability, you may end up being disappointed.
The ideal course of action is to set up face to face meeting with a criminal lawyer to see if you feel comfortable and confident with that person being your representative in front of a judge, prosecutor and possibly jury.
The specialized fit for your type of situation combined with good communication tends to make you happier with your choice of lawyer.
Bargain Lawyers May Not Be Bargains
Be careful about trying to find the cheapest lawyer in Houston. Often the reason for unusually low fees is a lack of experience. Or that they charge an additional amount for each appearance fee. Or they handle mass numbers of cases and do not give your case the personal attention it should require.
A client has the option of limiting the scope of representation, but appearance fee practice can create uncertain costs because the legal process tends to go slower than you hope.
In the long run, inexperienced attorneys can cost you money because you may have to hire another lawyer to fix the problem created by the first lawyer. An experienced criminal law specialist may have a better understanding of the right course of action and get a case resolved to your favor more quickly if possible.
In addition, if you are innocent and lose your case, you may have to pay costs of appeal. The costs involved with going to jail and having a criminal record make getting an experienced lawyer a better value.
A Texas Board Certified Lawyer Does Not Necessarily Cost More
Just as you shouldn’t bargain shop for a plastic surgeon, you shouldn’t bargain shop for your lawyer. To date, there are over 70,000 lawyers in Texas, but less than 150 in Houston who are Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Criminal Law. It can be easy to find a lawyer, but it can be more difficult to find the best criminal lawyer for you and your particular situation.
Also be wary of an attorney that charges you a huge retainer upfront without knowing the details of your case. Criminal cases are not identical, and a fee should be based on considerations of your particular situation.
Be sure to get your fee agreement in writing, and make sure it is thorough, with no hidden surprises.
You may be surprised that a Board Certified Criminal Defense lawyer can cost the same or sometimes less than a non-board certified one. Sometimes, our clients are surprised that the quote is smaller than they thought it would be, but we really do try to provide good value and charge an amount that represents the effort and expertise needed to handle your case.
Payment Terms
Please call (713) 224-5455 to set up a time for a free initial consultation with Bill Stradley. We understand that people typically do not budget for unexpected legal events and accept credit cards for payment. Do not delay. Often early representation by a qualified, experienced criminal defense attorney can get better results.
