Is $1,200 flat fee defense attorney for underage DUI a lot?
SpeshL BLenD asked:
Is that kind of a high price? People are telling me that it is. Also what is an average price for an attorney for a situation where a 20 year old gets a dui, (blew .22). I know I will not get off completely either way, but whatever will help. My parents are not helping me pay for it, and I don’t know exactly what I am doing, so I just don’t want to get screwed.
Another lawyer told me $2,500 so I thought $1200 was good. But my dad said that was a lot. What is average?
This is a retired prosecutor of the township where I got the charges, so I assume he has some experience in this…
No, it’s not.
DO NOT COMPARE PRICES!!! Look for education, qualifications, and experience. If you compare prices, you will get burned. There may be a reason why the attorney charges more - dig deeper and find out that reason.
Hmmm… I guess I’d want to know more about the advice you were getting before saying $1200 is too much.
It sounds high, but maybe s/he plans to fight it vigorously. Has s/he told you you’re going to trial? Is there an offer from the DA? 0.22 is pretty high - most states have a limit of 0.8.
If this person can get you a deferred judgment or something better than 1 year probation then maybe it’s worth it, but that’s a tough call. The only way to know is to call around to competitors and see what you find out.
I know attorney’s that charge $5,000 just to talk to you. But like other posters wrote, you shouldn’t compare fees, it is the attorney’s education and experience that matters the most.
Considering that most attorney’s charge between $150 - $300 an hour, I think the quoted fee is reasonable. Make sure that all additional fees, such as filing fees, documentation fees and paralegal fees are included in this quote.
Sorry I’m not sure about drinking and being A minor.. I’d say that thats probably the going rate I’d also so say it would be the location as to what state or country your located in.. I think that they are breaking down to minors drinking in driving cause of all of the deaths that seem to be within the teenagers which is a good thing, plus maybe its a expensive lesson that maybe you’ll not do twice.. Best of luck
I’d wonder if your lawyer is a public defender, and if it snot, thats more than likely why your getting charged what your getting charged.. But a public defender works for the county, and the likely hood of him or her helping defend you is zero to none..
$ 1200.00 for a DUI?? Better agree to it before he changes his mind. You need him a hell of a lot more than the needs you. If you don;t believe me, shop around!