How Much Will a White Collar Crime Lawyer Cost?

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 How Much Will a White Collar Crime Lawyer Cost?

White collar crimes include a variety of non-violent crimes that are typically committed in commercial or business situations for financial gain. The majority of these crimes are prosecuted by the federal government. 

These crimes are very serious in nature. The term “white collar crime” refers to the fact that individuals who commit these types of crimes are typically high-powered professionals as opposed to blue collar crimes, which are typically committed by laborers. 

Attorney fees for white collar crimes will vary depending on many factors. This may include location, type of crime, and complexity of the case. This will be further discussed below.

If an individual is looking to hire a criminal defense lawyer, they are likely in a difficult situation and need assistance quickly. Facing criminal charges is a very serious matter with serious consequences which may include:

  • Jail time;
  • Criminal fines;
  • Restitution;
  • A criminal record; 
  • Loss of future employment opportunities; or
  • Other possible punishments.

The United States Constitution guarantees a defendant the right to counsel in a criminal prosecution. If a defendant cannot afford an attorney, the court will appoint one for them. If the court determines the defendant can afford an attorney, based on their income and assets, they may hire a private attorney or represent themselves.

An individual representing themselves, especially in a case with serious charges, is strongly advised against. The saying in the legal world goes, “he who represents himself has a fool for a client,” said by Abraham Lincoln.

It is essential to discuss payment details for an attorney’s services prior to hiring them. The attorney may charge a flat fee or an hourly rate. It is rare for an attorney to charge a flat fee for  criminal cases because, typically, they are all unique. However, in some cases, such as a simple misdemeanor charge, an attorney may charge a flat fee of $1,000 to $3,000. 

Hourly billing rates and fees are the most common type of fee arrangement used by criminal defense attorneys. As previously noted, flat fee arrangements are not dependable ways of measuring the various factors and costs associated with a criminal case. 

Hourly attorney rates will vary greatly. An individual can expect to pay between $150 and $700 per hour for a criminal defense attorney’s time. With this type of fee structure, it is not uncommon for the bill to reach the $10,000 to $15,000 range fairly quickly.

An attorney who uses an hourly rate billing type may require the client pay a retainer fee. This is done to cover a certain amount of the attorney’s time. After the retainer amount is used, in most cases, the hourly rate will begin.

What Types of White Collar Crimes Are There?

As noted above, a white collar criminal offense is typically a non-violent offense perpetrated for financial gain. In many cases, they include some type of scam. White collar crimes may include:

  • Securities fraud;
  • Fraud;
  • Embezzlement;
  • Misrepresentation;
  • Tax evasion;
  • Money laundering;
  • Bank fraud;
  • Computer and internet fraud which may include:
    • Applying for credit cards online under a false name;
    • The unauthorized use of a computer or information on that computer;
    • Manipulation of files on a computer; or
    • Computer sabotage or hacking;
  • Bankruptcy Fraud, which may include:
    • Misleading a creditor or creditors; or
    • Concealing assets from a bankruptcy court or a bankruptcy lawyer;
  • Bribery, which includes:
    • The offering of money or anything of value which is used for the purpose of influencing the actions of a decision maker;
  • Credit Card Fraud, which includes:
    • The unauthorized use of a credit card; or
    • Identity theft;
  • Counterfeiting, which includes:
    • Copying or imitating an item without authorization with the intent to try and pass it off as the genuine article. It is typically associated with money but can also apply to driver’s licenses, immigration papers, or any other important documents;
  • Trade Secret Theft, which includes:
    • Theft or misappropriation of trade secret information. Trade secret information is anything used in a business that makes it different and for that secret to be exposed would cause the business to lose substantial value, such as if an employee of Coca-cola leaked the recipe to Pepsi and got paid for it;
  • Health Care Fraud, which typically has some relation to insurance. It includes but is not limited to:
    • Kick backs;
    • Billing for services not rendered;
    • Billing for unnecessary equipment;
    • Billing by a lesser qualified individual, such as a nurse billing under the hours of a doctor; or
    • Any kind of falsification of records used to make an additional profit;
  • Insider Trading, which includes:
    • Those with privileged information taking special advantage and reaping profits or avoid losses in the stock market to the detriment of the typical investor; or
  • Antitrust Violations, which includes:
    • An attempt by one or two companies to dominate a particular market by getting rid of all competitors.

How Much Will a White Collar Crime Lawyer Cost Me?

The cost to defend a white collar case will be based on a number of factors. There are factors that determine the lawyer’s hourly fee, which may include:

  • Location;
  • Years of experience;
  • Additional training or education;
  • The average hourly rate in the area; or
  • The lawyer’s experience in the specific area of law.

For example, if an individual chooses an attorney from New York City, their hourly rate is going to be much higher than an attorney from a small town in Oklahoma. An attorney may also charge more if they have acquired additional education, such as a tax degree, in addition to their law degree.

Other factors that will influence the cost may include:

  • How long the lawyer will work on the case;
  • The complexity of the case;
  • How much investigative work must be done prior to a trial, if applicable;
  • The likelihood of an agreement being reached;
  • The number of court appearances that will likely be required;
  • If there is the potential for a trial;
  • Filing motions; and
  • Preliminary hearings.

It is important to note that even if the parties expect to settle a case, there is always a chance they will not and the case will lead to a trial. An attorney has to prepare every case as if it were going to trial, whether or not it does. 

This may cause an attorney to spend money on things such as investigations that a client may not understand why they are necessary. It is necessary because the attorney must be prepared for a trial in the event one does occur because they will likely not have enough time to do so if given short notice.

Do Lawyers Bill for Any Additional Work?

Yes, lawyers bill for additional work. They charge fees for expert witnesses or investigators. This is because the expert witness or investigator must be paid for their services. The amount will depend on the experience and work the witness or investigator must complete. On average, a defendant may expect to pay $7,500 or more. 

Some attorneys also charge for case-related expenses. These may include:

  • Conducting research;
  • Obtaining interviews; or
  • Making photocopies.

While some of these charges may seem frivolous to a client, it is important to remember that most attorneys have an office, which includes an office staff that they must pay a salary for each year. In many cases, office staff are the ones who make photocopies and do other administrative case preparations. In some cases, the lawyer will bill at a lower rate for certain types of work done on the case if it is done by a staff member. 

Should I Contact a Lawyer?

Yes, it is essential to have the assistance of an experienced criminal lawyer for any white collar crime issues you are facing. These types of crimes are very serious. You can face many years in prison if you are convicted of a white collar crime. A lawyer can review your case, determine if there are any defenses available to you, and represent you during any court proceedings, if necessary. 

In some cases, an attorney may be able to negotiate with the prosecution for reduced charges or a lighter sentence. Having a defense attorney may mean the difference between a happy future and a ruined one.

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