Understandably, everyone wants to know how much their defense will cost.

The answer depends on the facts and the venue (the county you are in). Beyond that, you need to consider:

• How much your freedom is worth?
  

• How likely is it that a strong legal defense will result in your acquittal or a lesser punishment?

The first thing to check is whether or not a trial is included in the price.

Some lawyers seem inexpensive but they tell you that court time itself will be very expensive, such as $1500 per appearance.

One problem with this approach is that almost all the real work in defending clients occurs outside of court. A successful preliminary hearing, for instance, can easily involve days of preparation while other court appearances may require little preparation.

Good trial preparation can result in a settlement or even a dismissal before trial. When the prosecutor learns that your lawyer actually intends to contest the matter by demanding discovery and filing other motions, you may get a break.  This is not always the way it works, but sometimes it is exactly how it works. Prosecutors are busy people and their priorites may not include an aggressive prosecution of your particular case.

Extra expenses can add up.

Investigators, psychologists, expert witnesses--these all cost money.

There may be other costs associated with locating people and documents, including those in public records.

An attorney-client trust account is required by law. The money you pay your lawyer must go into a special client-trust account. This money can only be used for your case, for fees and expenses. Any unused portion must be returned to you at the termination of the legal services.

Price shopping.

Paying one attorney less than another attorney is not worth a year or two in prison.

• How much is it worth to you to not have a criminal record?
  

• How much is it worth to you to not have this conviction on your record?
  

At the Law Offices of Douglas Slain, we know that you are not paying a law firm to simply spend time on your case. You are paying for results.

Financing options.

For most of our clients a serious legal defense is a one-time event. They want the best they can afford. Some clients, however, do not have the kind of cash necessary to mount the best defense and need to finance their legal fees.

Sources of cash for legal fees includes: partners, spouses, friends, and other family members.

The Law Offices of Douglas Slain works with a variety of reputable lending sources to help clients finance their defense in times of crisis.