how much to hire attorney for drug possession

Whether your lawyer is working on an hourly rate or flat fee, retainers for a criminal defense attorney on drug-related charges start around $2,000-$5,000 for misdemeanors and $5,000-$15,000 for felonies, but can easily be $20,000-$30,000 and more for serious or life felonies, or complex cases that will involve a lot of hours and expert witnesses.

Full Answer

How much does it cost to hire a drug attorney?

Hiring a drug lawyer can prove to be costly. A drug lawyer will start by requiring a hefty retainer fee, ranging from $2,000 to $15,000. After the attorney has used up the retainer, they will charge hourly, with fees often costing $150-$750 per hour.

What is a retainer fee for a lawyer?

Sep 12, 2021 · An experienced criminal defense attorney can make all the difference in a drug possession case and the future ahead for those facing charges. For those not familiar with the legal profession, it’s important to understand the costs …

Is drug possession a misdemeanor or a felony?

Whether your lawyer is working on an hourly rate or flat fee, retainers for a criminal defense attorney on drug-related charges start around $2,000-$5,000 for misdemeanors and $5,000-$15,000 for felonies, but can easily be $20,000-$30,000 and more for serious or life felonies, or complex cases that will involve a lot of hours and expert witnesses. The total legal fees will …

What do attorneys charge for answering my questions?

How Much Does a Lawyer Cost for Drug Possession? If you are charged with misdemeanor drug possession you can expect to pay anywhere from $2,000 to $3,000. If you are charged with felony drug possession you can expect to pay a retainer of $2,500 and pay a cost of $1,000 per day of trial according to WeSource .

Why Hire a Criminal Defense Attorney?

The primary role of a criminal defense attorney is to represent the defendant (you), who has been accused of a certain crime or already have been charged with a criminal offense.

The Unique Complexity of the Case

Usually there are two extremely potent cost-affecting factors when it comes to criminal defense - it is the unique complexity of your case and seriousness of the case.

Your Criminal History (If Applicable)

The cost is also affected by your criminal history. The more legal trouble you've had in the past, the more the lawyer will have to work to make sure that those issues from your past - don't bring you down in the present.

How Much Do Lawyers Cost for Criminal Defense: Flat Fee vs Hourly Billing

As mentioned before, some lawyers bill by the hour for the provision of their services. This can be beneficial to those clients who know that their case is simple and straightforward.

Before You Meet With a Criminal Defense Attorney

Before you have your first meeting, you should consider what you want from your defense attorney in the first place. For example:

The Meeting

Now that your first meeting is underway, allow the attorney to begin. They will probably ask a tonne of questions and gather a full picture of the case.

Your Case - Your Choice

Now that you know everything about what a criminal defense attorney does, what affects the total cost for hiring one, and how to prepare and execute your first meeting. You are well on your way to taking control of your case and improving your chances of victory.

How much does a lawyer charge for a misdemeanor?

A lawyer may charge a flat fee for a specific phase of the case (such as the preliminary/pretrial hearing and motions) or an hourly rate of $100-$300 or more.

Can an attorney lie to the court?

Anything you tell your attorney is confidential, but your attorney cannot lie to the court for you or knowingly offer a false defense. FindLaw.com explains what a criminal defense lawyer does [ 2] . There are laws governing all the steps in a criminal case, starting with the investigation, arrest, arraignment and bail procedures.

How much does a criminal defense attorney charge per hour?

You can expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $300 per hour to hire a criminal defense lawyer according to CostHelper. For example, Thumbtack says, “ if an attorney has a $200 hourly fee, he or she may require a 10-hour retainer fee of $2,000 ”

What are the consequences of a felony drug conviction?

Immigration Consequences. The immigration status of an individual found guilty of felony drug convictions may be extremely jeopardized. If it is considered a “crime of moral turpitude” an immigrant may face removal or be deported and have their green card taken away.

What are some examples of felony charges?

Examples of Felony Drug Charges. Depending on state and federal laws, felony charges can be pressed if the type of drug and the quantity you have is considered “Possession of A Controlled Substance .”. For example, a higher amount of marihuana would be required to face felony charges as opposed to crack cocaine.

How long do you go to jail for a felony?

Drug charges are serious. First offense felony drug charges normally lead to a minimum of one year in prison as well as fees and fines. A felony conviction for possession can lead up to two years of prison time and fines in four to five figures. As we said earlier, the penalties can differ regarding the amount and type of drug and whether it was being trafficked or sold and if the person is a repeat offender or not. First time offenders may face up to three years in prison and repeat offenders between three and fifteen years with very heavy fines in both cases.

What is a Schedule I drug?

Drugs are classed into schedules. For example. Schedule I are drugs that are considered high risk and have no to little medical use. Schedule V drugs have more applications and pose a lesser risk than Schedule I drugs.

What to do when a case is pending in court?

When your case as a defendant is pending in the local courthouse, it can really help to have an attorney on you side who has a working knowledge and in-depth experience of working in that courthouse as procedures can be different in different courthouses. It may be the case the District Attorney in one location has a policy of no-plea-bargaining in certain circumstances, but a District Attorney is a neighboring jurisdiction has no such policy in place. It is also likely if your attorney is local, they may also have knowledge of how prosecuting attorneys work as well as relationships with local law enforcement and how they usually deal with juries in cases that go to trial. You can see from this it is paramount defendants choose an attorney who has experience in dealing with the workings of the local judicial system.

Is drug trafficking a felony?

If you have small amounts designed for personal use you may face a simple misdemeanor, however possession of large amounts may lead to felony possession charges being pressed. In the majority of situations, the distribution of trafficking of drugs is considered to be a felony.

Hire A Drug Possession Attorney in Baltimore, Maryland

Yes, this is a real thing and getting an experienced drug crime lawyer on your side is priority number one. If you are facing drug charges, felony drug charges, drug trafficking, or any other drug-related charge, finding the right lawyer is your number one priority.

Understanding Marijuana Laws in Baltimore, Maryland

Maryland has decriminalized the possession of marijuana. That does not mean that marijuana is completely legal to have in your possession, however. At the time of writing this article, holding less than 10 grams of marijuana is considered a civil offense.

Drug Laws Pertaining to Non-Marijuana Substances

There are obviously other drugs and drug charges that are not specific to marijuana. While each case is different, a drug charge attorney can go over your case and help you fight it. The first thing you might want to do is check out what substances are illegal.

FACTORS CONSIDERED BY AN ATTORNEY

The cost for a criminal defense attorney can vary widely and different attorneys use different factors in deciding how much to charge. The most common factors criminal defense attorneys consider are:

TRIAL FEE VERSUS NO TRIAL FEE

Some criminal defense attorneys charge an additional trial fee and some do not. What is the difference, and is one better than the other?

HOW TO GET A FAIR FEE AGREEMENT

The best way to make sure that you are getting a fair fee is to be completely forthcoming about all of the issues in your case, both good and bad.