This is the next post in my discussion of whether or not hiring a criminal defense attorney is worth the cost for Phoenix residents. My last post discussed picking a lawyer you are comfortable with. It is important to understand that if you select counsel, who is not a “good fit,” then you run the risk of issues arising during your defense. In this article I will provide examples of how the cost of legal services can be justified.
It is easy to be skeptical over whether an attorney’s services justify their cost. Cases can range from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars depending on the severity of the charges. This is a large amount of money for Arizona residents to have to pay out. These costs, however, are justified when you factor in the cost of the possible consequences. Consider the following examples.
Suppose you get stopped for a DUI and quickly accept a guilty plea. The Court will impose fines and other financial costs may be associated with your sentence. You also have to factor in the fact that your driver’s license will be suspended, that you will be paying for taxis, Uber rides, public transportation, and more just to transport yourself to and from work. When your driving privileges are restored then you will pay a higher cost for insurance. Also, if you drive for a living (such as if you are a delivery driver, a truck driver, etc.) then you may lose your job and/or find yourself disqualified from future employment. In other words, the cost of a DUI conviction can be quite high.
Retaining an attorney may help a defendant avoid the financial consequences discussed above. In a DUI case (staying with this example), law enforcement will sometimes be found to have violated the defendant’s rights during the initial traffic stop. If this is the case then it may be possible for defense counsel to file a Motion to have all evidence excluded from Court. If such a Motion is successful then the case would likely be dismissed. The defendant would then avoid fines and other Court punishments. While the cost of an attorney may be high, it is justified when you consider the cost of making your case a “do it yourself project.”
If you are charged with a criminal offense and are unsure about retaining a private attorney then contact my Phoenix office today. I will use your initial consultation to help you understand what it is you face from the process, the associated costs, and I will give advice as to how you should proceed. We also represent defendants in other Maricopa County cities such as Mesa, Glendale, Scottsdale, Chandler, and Gilbert. We also assist Pima County residents in Tucson.
