Costs of Hiring Your Attorney
The first question that comes into the mind of anyone who needs to hire a lawyer is, “how much is this going to cost me?” and that’s only natural. The legal profession, aside from being the butt of a great many jokes, is a bit of a mystery to the average person; especially if they’ve never had to retain the services of one in the past. We’re going to take a look at the factors that play a role in legal fees in this article to give you an idea of legal fees come together. It’s our hope this helps you find a firm that’s right for your case.
While the factors that play into the fees for your particular case may be different, as all attorneys can charge any fees they choose, the following factors should be involved in pricing your representation to one degree or another:
- Complexity: How complex is the case? How serious is the charge? Is it a misdemeanor? Is it a felony? How many court appearances will be involved from start to finish? All of these questions go into determining the complexity of the case for any experienced attorney and will play a role in pricing.
- Experience: An attorney just out of law school is going to offer services at a lower rate than an experienced one. That’s logical. What may surprise you is that a low hourly rate does not always translate to a lower final bill. An experienced lawyer with a high hourly rate may be able to resolve a case quickly while an inexperienced attorney with a low hourly rate may end up taking far longer to resolve the case and cost you more in the long run. We feel legal experience trumps cheap prices every time.
- Location: Where is your case being tried? Are you in a metropolitan area? Is your case in a small rural court? This is going to play a role in pricing your legal representation. The number of firms in your area, the competition between them for your case and the experience of the local attorneys can affect fees as well. Legal representation is exactly the same as any other commodity and will cost more in some places than others.
All of these factors will go into the fee structure your attorney of choice uses to price your case. You can easily find the average nationwide by checking national publications like Consumer Reports if you feel it will help you form a baseline prior to talking to the attorney’s you’re interested in. But remember, the cheapest may not always be the best, so you want to do your homework on their past experience and successes.
You can always call (703) 351-5015 and schedule a consultation with the finest legal firm in the region, James A. DeVita & Associates. We offer fees that are as competitive as any firm in the area and experience that can’t be matched, so make the call today and get the representation you deserve from the best team in Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC.
