Comprehensive Arizona DUI Information
dui attorneys fees
Remember, you will probably get what you pay for. Beware of a deeply "discounted" lawyer. Beware of lawyers who will adjust their fees when you ask.
RULE ONE: Lawyers in private practice who defend DUI cases are not in the business of charity, and some who do donate time or work pro bono once in a while will probably not agree to do so in your case. If you are looking for charity, keep in mind that you have the right to a public defender or assigned counsel if you can't afford a private attorney.
RULE TWO: Good lawyers do not come cheap. Because they are good, they have enough business that they don't need to bargain for yours.
RULE THREE: If you want the primary lawyer in a law firm to handle your case personally, be prepared to pay for it. You don't want to be your lawyer's sucker, but you certainly don't want a lawyer who will be you sucker.
FEE STRUCTURES
Lawyers who defend DUI
cases charge a wide range of fees, in a variety of
structures. Because there is such a large range, it may be
helpful to interview several lawyers with various fee ranges
to discern their differences.
The rules of ethics governing lawyer conduct prohibit
lawyers from representing clients on a contingent fee basis
in DUI cases. Therefore, no competent DUI lawyer will enter
into an agreement where the client pays only if the lawyer
wins. Other than that limitation, you will find a wide range
of fees structures and billing practices among DUI defense
attorneys.
The most common fee structure is the flat fee. Under this
arrangement, the client pays a predetermined amount
up-front. This covers the entire matter, no matter how much
work it requires, and no matter if it goes to trial or is
settled without litigation.
A variation of this structure splits the flat fee into
several phases. For instances, an attorney may charge a flat
fee for everything up until a jury trial, and then charge an
additional fee if the case proceeds to a trial.
For a first time
misdemeanor Arizona DUI charge, expect fees from $5,000.00 to
$10,000.00. For felony DUIs, expect fees from $12,000.00 to
upwards of $20,000.00.
Other lawyers will charge an hourly rate, say $300.00 per
hour. They will ask for an initial retainer up front, and
then bill against that retainer as the work is done. When
the original retainer is exhausted, they then ask the client
to replenish it with new money.
Some lawyers are willing to accept payment plans or adjust
their fees to accommodate a client's financial need. Others
ask for the entire fee up front or in a couple large
payments. There are no rules governing this area, and the
lawyer is free to offer whatever payment structure he/she
deems best.
RETURN TO THE HOW TO HIRE A DUI LAWYER PAGE