lawyer cost?!?!

[rissaface]

What is the name of your state? CA

i've posted my situation on here already. got a dui, took blood test, under legal limit.

my court date is mar. 1st. i am now serious about getting a lawyer. i met with a lawyer on Monday and he told me it would cost me $5000. is that normal, or is he taking advantage of a clueless 21 year old girl? i don't know anyone who knows of any lawyers and all i know is lawyers are supposed to be people who you can't trust. how do i trust this guy? i wouldn't mind paying the money if i knew i wouldn't get the conviction... but i'm scared crapless that i might pay the 5k and still end up getting convicted and have all the dui fines. i cant pay for all this, as it is i will have to take out a loan just to pay for the lawyer. what am i to do?

 

[seniorjudge]

$5K sounds pretty cheap for California.

Of course, you understand nothing is guaranteed.

 

[BigMistakeFl]

BigMistakeFl

5K is in the window of DUI defense, though high for my area. There is no certainty that his / her defense will work for you at all. You need to know that going in. As for trusting the lawyer, you can trust that he or she can be told anything and that he or she will maintain attorney - client priviledge, but you cannot trust that he or she will prevail in your case. Personally? I think if you were guilty, you might as well save the money and take the penalties without spending the $$$ on an expensive lawyer; but that's your choice to make. If you were truly not guilty, then you should spend it and defend yourself.

 

[rissaface]

i do believe i wasn't guilty

i passed the blood test. i would not have gotten behind the wheel if i thought i wasn't ok to drive. i know that my driving wasn't impaired yet, anymore to drink and i would have been bad, but i was ok because i stopped drinking when i did.
i believe i did ok on the FST i was cold and nervous... but considering the circumstances (this was my first time being pulled over and i was soooo scared), i believe that i shouldn't have even been arrested or have had to spend the night in jail.
it's not like i got pulled over for swerving or getting in an accident. i got pulled over for doing a rolling stop through a stop sign and for not having a front license plate and having a headlight out and modified exhaust.

 

[Bretagne]

If you were under the legal limit, then you have a great case. The investment will be worth it when it comes to finding the best possible DUI attorney.

The state will still prosecute; you must have appeared intoxicated enough for them to arrest and detain you overnight.

Maybe the blood tests revealed drugs, meth, something?

$5000 is appropriate if this is a case which will not settle early. Ask to see if you need to pay a seperate trial retainer in the event of trial. Is this a "flat fee" that will take you all the way through trial? If so, that's a great deal.

 

[rissaface]

the $5000 is just for the court fee, if it goes to trial then it will cost more (will the lawyers purposely try to get it to go to trial so that i have to pay them more?). the only thing i'm scared about is even though i was under the legal limit i was barely under. i had a .07. my lawyer told me that on the arrest report that the FST is inconsistent. in a couple of the test it sounds like i'm ok, then in one of them it sounds like i'm belligerent. i'm defiantly afraid of the outcome and not knowing what's going to happen.

 

[CdwJava]

$5,000 sounds about right for pre-trial and DMV hearings. Expect to spend upwards to $15,000 for trial.

.07 is not a free pass. .08 makes it easier because the legal presumption is that a person is impaired at that BAC. All .07 does is grant a legal presumption of neutrality to your impairment. Depending on the FSTs and the officer's training and experience, you can still be convicted.

So, you are right to be scared. And it is definitely a crap shoot. It's going to depend on how confident you are in this attorney, and how much money are you willing to spend to roll those dice.

- Carl

 

[pacific22]

I just got a quote for $6,000 in California, just for the trial, not DMV hearing. The investigator is extra.

This seems high to me. He seemed knowledgeable and somewhat confident, but wasn't very convincing. Told me to call him when I was ready. I'm in the same position as this girl. Anyone know what the cost is for an investigator?

 

[AlanShore]

I just got a quote for $6,000 in California, just for the trial, not DMV hearing. The investigator is extra.

This seems high to me. He seemed knowledgeable and somewhat confident, but wasn't very convincing. Told me to call him when I was ready. I'm in the same position as this girl. Anyone know what the cost is for an investigator?

6K for Cali, for a good lawyer is very cheap. How do you want him to be convincing? Depends on how much investigation you want done.

 

[CdwJava]

I just got a quote for $6,000 in California, just for the trial, not DMV hearing. The investigator is extra.

That's probably not an attorney that specializes in DUI cases. Those guys can be pricey, but they tend to know what holes to TRY and exploit. It can still be a crap shoot.

- Carl

 

[pacific22]

Thanks for the info. $6k is fine. But not for a crap shoot. Any good advice or things to look out for when choosing a lawyer? This is my first time doing this.

 

[garrula lingua]

OP: find out if you're in trouble before you spend the $; these retainers are usually non-refundable.Go to court on the arraignment date. You will only find out then, whether the Prosecutor is filing the case. So. appear 'pro per' (representing yourself).

If the case is filed, you will see what exact charge has been filed &, hopefully, the Prosecutor will tell you what the offer (plea bargain) is: it might be a 'dry'; it might be two infractions.

If the case was filed as a misdemeanor/DUI, ask for a continuance to hire an attorney, and ask for the discovery - the police report and the complaint.

An atty really can't project the 'outcome' without reading the police report & seeing what you are actually charged with.

BUT - you only have 10 days to ask for an administrative hearing before DMV goes thru with the suspension of your DL - ask for that admin hearing (how is explained on the form the cop gave you, when s/he stopped you, or call DMV).

 

[rissaface]

i've already requested an arrest report from the police department and have given my lawyer the report which has the entire FST and why i was pulled over and all of the info included on it. can i meet with a district attorney before hand? i'm so stressed out because i don't want to make the wrong choice. if i need to put the money out there then i will, but i can't get the conviction or even have the case go to trail because i will not be able to afford it especially after paying the $5,000.

how does this work if i go on my court date and and find out the arraignment? i don't think i can do this by myself. my parents live out of state and i'm left here to figure it out on my own. i'm really scared of being screwed over because of my ignorance and lack of knowledge as to how the court system works. who can i call to figure this all out? should i try for a public defender? (can i get a public defender for my arraignment date and then ask to hire an attorney?) how does that work?

 

[seniorjudge]

I seriously doubt that the prosecutor will want to meet with an unrepresented defendant.

 

[rissaface]

I seriously doubt that the prosecutor will want to meet with an unrepresented defendant.

so... what does that mean? i really don't understand how this all works. they don't show this stuff on judge judy.