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If you've been charged with a Michigan Criminal Sexual Conduct (CSC) offense, you undoubtedly have all kinds of questions and uncertainties running through your mind about possible penalties, chances of prevailing at trial - basically, questions about what is going to happen with your case and therefore your future.
At Prain Law, PLLC, we specifically concentrate our practice on defending those accused of CSC in Michigan, and you can visit our website to read the volumes of articles and pages on just about every CSC related topic under the sun. If there's a question on your mind, chances are we've already answered it in great detail, so check it out.
Whether it's one of the first things on your mind or not, unless you'll be represented by a court appointed attorney, you'll eventually confront the matter of finding the best attorney possible to represent you. That involves dealing with the issue of cost. If you've never hired an attorney before, let alone a criminal defense attorney, it's helpful to have a leg-up before you start considering and comparing different attorneys and their fees. So...what will it cost to hire an experienced CSC defense attorney to fight for you?
We can only speak for ourselves at Prain Law and not any other firm, but we're happy to answer that question. We'll need to know some information about your case, but in most cases, we are able to quote an exact fee that we commit to during the first phone call with us - no need to waste hours on an in-person visits at attorney offices just to get to the bottom-line - let's face it, you don't have time for that right now. So give Prain Law, PLLC, your Michigan Criminal Sexual Conduct Attorney a call right now at (248) 731-4543 or use our online Contact Form.
There are different types of attorney fees, and which type you're being quoted can make all the difference in what it costs, even when the initial dollar amount sounds the same at the outset...
You may not know this, but not all attorney fees work the same way. Getting a quote at a certain price-point may mean little of any real value unless you understand what type of fee it is. To illustrate, imagine this scenario...
You're looking for an attorney to defend you against a charge of Criminal Sexual Conduct 3rd Degree after being accused of Rape, or perhaps Criminal Sexual Conduct 1st Degree or Criminal Sexual Conduct 2nd Degree after being accused of sexually assaulting a minor. You are innocent, but you realize that with a maximum penalty of either LIFE (for CSC 1st Degree) or 15 years (for CSC 2nd Degree and CSC 3rd Degree) and up to lifetime Sex Offender Registration, you're going to need an aggressive, dedicated attorney with a proven track record of success - specifically in CSC matters (including jury trials). As you make calls, you realize that some attorneys are clearly more knowledgable than others, so you scratch-off those who don't seem too sharp on CSC topics or can't cite recent CSC trial victories.
RELATED: Criminal Sexual Conduct in Michigan - Differences Between the Degrees.
Then, you talk to one attorney who appears to be saying all the right things you want to hear, and their price quote of $XXXX dollars (pick any amount) is far less than most others. Easy decision, right? So imagine you pay this attorney the $XXXX. In the whirlwind of discussion and information going back-and-forth in the hiring process, you thought you even heard something about getting money back if your case doesn't take much work. "Great!", you say. You feel relieved.
Fast-forward three months. At least from your point of view, nothing of significance has really happened, perhaps you've even waived your Preliminary Exam, and there appears to be no end in sight - you're told that the ultimate decision whether to accept a resolution or go to trial won't be made for months yet (or even a year, depending on how the case goes). THEN, you open the mail one day to receive an Invoice for that same amount, $XXXX, which you already paid.
You call and say "There must be a mistake. I already paid this when I hired you guys." But you're told that the attorney's file notes indicate they already worked "X" amount of hours, and at a rate of $400/hr., all of that money is already used up. In-fact, they say you even owe a small balance that needs to be paid immediately. They're referring to something in their contract that you signed that says it works this way, but you sure didn't realize that. Even worse, if you don't "refill the tank" so to speak, they may ask the Judge to release them from the case. Shocked, you wonder "How many times will I have to 'refill the tank' before my case is over? Will it be three times? Four times?"
If you left on a road trip that ends up consuming four tanks of gas to get to the destination, but you are only willing or able to buy two tanks, then you're better off if you never left.
Suddenly, what seemed like a low-ball fee for a great attorney feels like a blank check with no expiration date. In fact, there are types of attorney fees where your money goes into a trust account and gets used up at an hourly rate, not much different than gas in your tank. It is the attorney's job to make sure the client understands the nature of the fee and billing structure. The above example could be the end product of a failure to have that understanding. More importantly, it can make a fee that is essentially unlimited actually sound cheap compared to others.
The various types of attorney fees and the details such as how the attorney must handle each fee type where the funds are to be placed are set forth by the ethical rules governing all Michigan attorneys. This article does not attempt to outline all of those rules. Importantly, there is absolutely nothing wrong with an attorney fee arrangement of the type described above so long as the attorney proceeds properly and ethically. All we are illustrating is what could happen if the client for whatever reason doesn't have a proper understanding the nature of such an agreement.
There are even attorney fees that provide for payment of a fee to an attorney for nothing other than the attorney making themselves available to handle a legal matter for the client even if it hasn't come to fruition. As for the amount of an attorney's fee, the ethics rules prohibit fees that are "clearly excessive" based on several factors, but that still leaves wide latitude based on case type, location, attorney experience level, etc.
You might need to ask what you may not want to admit to yourself: "Am I vulnerable right now?"
When you're facing Criminal Sexual Conduct charges, it would be normal to feel afraid and uncertain. Especially for those who already suffer from anxiety, each day becomes a game of just getting by and suppressing the mind's endless, automatic thoughts and worries until days end - only to start again in vain the next day. Simply put, you're just trying to find an idea to rest on so you feel okay inside for the time being. To be vulnerable in this context means you may be susceptible to silencing your rational judgment in order to go with whatever thing makes you feel better in that very moment.
And if that something happens to be an attorney saying all the right things right now for a price that's too good to be true, then perhaps try asking yourself this...
If someone offered you a new luxury car at half the price every other dealer was charging, wouldn't you wonder why? Wouldn't you wonder if there was something wrong with that car, or the seller's intentions, or both? What about even just a pair of designer shoes from an online discount outlet?
Of course you probably would. So why not treat your very life and future with that same caution?
The solution might lie in recognizing the vulnerable position you may be in right now.
At Prain Law, we don't let these things happen.
Again, we can't speak for anyone else, but when you hire Prain Law, PLLC to defend you against your Criminal Sexual Conduct charge, you have the benefit of knowing what it's going to cost right from the start. If there is a level of uncertainty as to how much work your case will take, we believe the attorney (the one with the experience), not you, should bear the burden of that uncertainty. Absent unusual circumstances, we're not counting hours. There are no hidden fees and costs. You don't need to think about how much each phone call or question you ask is going to cost you. If yours is a rare case with some unique circumstance or an "if this happens, then we may need to do XYZ" scenario, then you'll know that up front, too.
Money should never be the barrier between you and the answers, advice, and advocacy you need.
Money should never be the gatekeeper between you and the next important action that needs to be taken in your defense.
RELATED: Michigan Criminal Sexual Conduct Lawyer Brian J. Prain Selected for Super Lawyers again for 2024!
So how much does it cost to hire an attorney for Criminal Sexual Conduct charges in Michigan?
It depends on several factors in the case. If you're still reading this, why not contact Prain Law, PLLC and find out. You'll likely speak to someone who will take basic information and then receive a call back ASAP from Brian himself. And it's not just a 15 minute chat until the egg timer runs out. These conversations take time. Assuming you have the type of case we handle (current CSC matters - no post-plea, post conviction, or appeals, etc.) and yours is a case we may be in a position to take on, it is not uncommon for Brian to spend an hour or even more with you during your first consultation, and there is no charge and no commitment. Imagine how talking to an experienced Michigan CSC attorney and getting real answers would feel - and you may be able to have that right now. So what are you waiting for?