How Much Does a Criminal Defense Lawyer Cost? DUI to Felony Defense

Criminal defense is predominantly flat-fee-by-stage billing, and the ranges track charge severity and how far the case goes. Misdemeanors (including first-offense DUI without aggravators) commonly run from the low to mid four figures through a negotiated resolution; serious misdemeanors and low-level felonies move into the mid four to low five figures; serious felony defense runs solidly into five figures, and trial multiplies everything — a felony jury trial routinely doubles or triples the pre-trial fee, and complex cases with experts go beyond. [LEGAL REVIEW: general ranges.] DUI adds its own layer: administrative license proceedings and, where contested, toxicology experts, each typically priced separately.

Why stage pricing exists — and what to confirm in writing

Cases resolve at different depths (arraignment, motions, plea, trial), so fees are quoted per stage: through arraignment and negotiation; through pretrial motions; through trial. The engagement letter must state which stages the fee covers, what triggers the next fee, and what's excluded — investigators, expert witnesses, appeals, and administrative hearings are commonly separate, and the surprise five-figure trial fee lands hardest on families who assumed "the fee" meant everything.

What drives quotes within the ranges

Exposure (the sentencing range if convicted — defense pricing scales with stakes), evidence volume (a document-heavy fraud case costs more to defend than a bar fight), the lawyer's market and reputation, and collateral complexity — immigration consequences, licensing issues, and record-clearing strategy add real work that cheap quotes skip.

The spending logic families should use

Match spend to exposure, not to fear: a first-offense misdemeanor with a standard outcome may be competently handled at the low end or by the public defender; a felony that threatens years, a career, or immigration status is exactly where trial-credible private counsel with investigative resources earns its fee — the difference between outcomes at that level dwarfs the fee difference. And on payment: many defense firms take staged payments; "we can't afford the whole trial fee today" is a conversation lawyers have daily, and honest ones structure it.