For years criminal lawyers have used flat-fee-billing.  The advantage of a flat-fee billing for the client is that the client knows precisely how much it will cost to hire the lawyer to do something for the client.  If it’s to negotiate a DUI pleaA plea agreementA plea agreement is usually a negotiated agreement between the defendant (through his lawyer) and the prosecution where the defendant agrees to plead guilty in exchange for some benefit, including, but not limited to, a reduced sentence or a reduction of charges. An Alford Plea is a guilty plea with all of the benefits and consequences of a guilty plea, but where the defendant does not admit personal guilt. is usually a negotiated agreement between the defendant (through his lawyer) and the prosecution where the defendant agrees to plead guilty in exchange for some benefit, including, but not limited to, a reduced sentence or a reduction of charges. An Alford Plea is a guilty plea with all of the benefits and consequences of a guilty plea, but where the defendant does not admit personal guilt. with the district attorneyA District Attorney is the represented of the State, usually elected by the people of a judicial district, to prosecute crimes on behalf of the State. The Wake County District Attorney is Colon Willoughby, Jr. A District Attorney usually has a staff, including assistant district attorneys who are the actual prosecutors who handle most of the day-to-day caseload., it might cost one amount.  If it’s to negotiate a pleaA plea agreementA plea agreement is usually a negotiated agreement between the defendant (through his lawyer) and the prosecution where the defendant agrees to plead guilty in exchange for some benefit, including, but not limited to, a reduced sentence or a reduction of charges. An Alford Plea is a guilty plea with all of the benefits and consequences of a guilty plea, but where the defendant does not admit personal guilt. is usually a negotiated agreement between the defendant (through his lawyer) and the prosecution where the defendant agrees to plead guilty in exchange for some benefit, including, but not limited to, a reduced sentence or a reduction of charges. An Alford Plea is a guilty plea with all of the benefits and consequences of a guilty plea, but where the defendant does not admit personal guilt. involving a homicide, it will cost a lot more.  And if it’s to go to trial, it will cost even more.  But the advantage is that the client knows what it will cost from the beginning.

This gives the client the comfort of knowing that, when the case is done, he isn’t going to be surprised with a bill he can’t pay.

This also gives the attorney the ability to adjust rates to accurately reflect the result being requested.  Instead of just spending hour after hour, and charging the client hour after hour in fees, the attorney can figure out generally how much time it takes him to do some service, and charge accordingly.

In addition, this gives the lawyer that comfort of knowing that the client can pay at the beginning of the case.  If the lawyer bills by the hour, and the hours simply add up, the attorney runs the risk that the attorney fees will be more than the client could possibly pay.

Flat fee criminal law and DUI law billing has been around for a long time.  Any criminal lawyer you should be able to tell you how much he will charge to handle your case.