Factors Determining the Cost of a Criminal Defence

There are many factors that determine the cost of a criminal defence, and in most cases it is impossible to predict with any accuracy what the final total will be. We will list for you here the most important factors.

The lawyer’s fees. The Law Society of British Columbia does not set lawyer fees. So, there may be a big range is prices. There are some trends, however. Lawyers in small towns tend to charge less, and lawyers in big cities tend to charge more. Lawyers with less experience tend to charge less and lawyers with a lot of experience and who work for big, famous law firms tend to charge the most.

Complexity of the case. By complexity we mean, how much research does the lawyer have to do? How many times will the lawyer have to go to court on your behalf? How many documents need to be drafted and filed?

Sometimes cases never go to trial and are settled beforehand. However, a long trial will be an expensive proposition.

Severity of charges. Defending a murder charge will be more complicated (see above) than defending a drug charge. The more severe the offence, the higher the cost of your legal defence.

Appeals. Are you going to appeal the verdict? Continuing to pursue justice after the verdict is not free. You will continue to pay for your lawyer’s time and expertise. There is no way around this.

Having an experienced criminal lawyer is not cheap. However, can anyone put a price on his or rights and freedoms? If you need a criminal lawyer, retain the best one that you can afford.

Michael Bloom is a very experienced criminal defence lawyer, who started his career as a Crown Prosecutor.

If you have any questions about this article or would like to schedule a free consultation with Mr. Bloom, please call his office at (604) 603-5513 or Toll-Free at (877) 603-5513.