CONTACT:
Joslyn Law Firm
501 S. High St.
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 444-1900
 
 
How to pay for an attorney when you need criminal defense representation
 
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Most people don’t budget for a criminal defense lawyer, but when they need one, money shouldn’t determine the quality of their case.
 
Joslyn Law Firm, a preeminent Ohio criminal defense law firm, shares some insight into attorney fees and how to pay for them.
 
“Most people don’t expect to need a criminal defense attorney,” said Joslyn Law Firm Founder and Attorney Brian Joslyn. “We firmly believe that you deserve quality representation and we will work hard with you to make this happen.”
 
First, clients need to understand how criminal attorney fees are determined. Whether they are facing drug crimes, traffic violations, juvenile charges, theft, white collar crime, domestic violence, OVI/DUI offenses, bench warrants or probation violations, each case is unique and requires a different scope of work.
 
Many attorneys, including Joslyn Law Firm, offer a free consultation. Use this time to share as much information as possible in order for the attorney to determine the nature of work involved. That may result in not only a better overall outcome, but a more accurate financial assessment.
 
There are many ways an attorney may charge clients:

• A one-time flat fee
• Billing by the hour
• Pay-as-you-go plan
• Retainer fee

 
A one-time flat fee takes anxiety over future costs out of the equation. In other words, there are no surprises. However, clients need to know up front what the fee covers as sometimes it includes only the initial phase of the case, but not trial representation.
 
Billing by the hour is a good option, but clients should be aware that this may only cover the attorney’s fee and no other costs associated with the case, like expert witnesses and time for support staff.
 
Pay-as-you-go doesn’t require a large sum of money up front, but if the case becomes more complicated, it may get costly. Some clients may also find it challenging to continue providing funds near the end of the case when the need is most crucial.
 
Perhaps the most popular funding option is a retainer. Clients pay a fee for the service up front. For example, if an attorney believes your case will take 10 hours of time at $120 an hour, he will ask for a retainer of $1,200 to cover the costs.
 
Clients with limited cash on hand can research other funding sources, such as secured and unsecured loans, real property loans, home equity loans, mortgage refinancing and title loans.
 
Regardless of how clients pay, it can be even more costly to choose an attorney based solely on finances.
 
“At Joslyn Law Firm, we work with each of our clients’ unique situations to help them secure the representation they need,” said Joslyn.
 
About Joslyn Law Firm
Joslyn Law Firm is a preeminent law firm with locations in Columbus, Cincinnati and Dayton that helps clients fight charges while retaining their dignity. For more information, call (614) 444-1900.