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Criminal Law
When you are facing criminal charges, you cannot afford to take chances with your defense. With so much at
stake - your job, your reputation, and your freedom - you need a criminal defense attorney who will fight for you. You need a
criminal defense attorney who is intelligent, aggressive, and experienced. The Houston Criminal Defense Attorneys -- Criminal
Defense Attorneys at Smith & Garg in Houston are well qualified to defend any criminal case in Texas state courts. The attorneys
at Smith & Garg have won numerous jury trials and represent clients on charges ranging from shoplifting to murder. Repeatedly,
Smith & Garg has proven itself as an accomplished criminal defense law firm with the knowledge and talent necessary to win at
trial but also the finesse and toughness needed to negotiate a good deal. Known for its passionate defense of the accused,
Houston criminal defense attorneys at Smith & Garg prides itself on the quality of representation it provides. The attorneys
at Smith & Garg are fierce and determined advocates who takes an aggressive approach to each case. Whatever your objective,
Smith & Garg know that you are best served by a criminal defense attorney who is ready, willing, and able to fight for you.
Houston criminal defense attorney Smith & Garg accepts cases throughout Harris County, Montgomery County, and Walker
County.
If you or someone you love has been charged with the crimes listed below, give Smith & Garg a call immediately
at 218-210-0010.
Common Questions Regarding Cost
How Much Does Legal Defense Cost?
One of the first questions most clients have when facing criminal charges is how much their defense will
cost. Of course, the answer depends on the circumstances of your case and the quality of the defense team.
Usually, an attorney will be able to quote you a fee after an initial consultation to discuss your situation.
The following are some points to consider when shopping for an attorney.
Is the price fixed, or could it increase as the case progresses?
Beware of legal contracts that charge strictly on a "pay as you go" basis. These arrangements make it difficult
to predict total costs up front, and you could find yourself out of cash in the middle of the criminal process.
If an attorney is confident in his or her abilities, that attorney should be able to assume the risk of giving
you a fixed price up front.
Is a trial included in the price?
An attorney might appear to be inexpensive by offering you a very low fee with the stipulation that court
time costs extra (usually, a lot extra). The problem with this approach is that a most of the work needed
to get a good trial outcome occurs before the trial begins. Good trial preparation often results in a settlement
or even the dropping of charges before the case goes to court. Skipping trial preparation in order to save
money might actually cost you dearly in the end in the form of higher legal fees and a worse case result.
Are there hidden costs?
Be sure to ask your attorney for a full disclosure of all possible costs and legal fees. Avoid agreements in
which you must pay extra for the participation of additional attorneys or for court fees. A good law firm should
be able to provide all of the required legal service for a flat fee and then absorb the cost when legal
assistance might be needed from other firms. In those cases when legal services from outside law firms may be
needed, your lawyer is legally required to disclose any fee splits to you.
What extra expenses are involved?
Be aware that regardless of the fees quoted to you, a case of any complexity may require investigators,
psychologists and other non-lawyer staff. There may be costs associated with obtaining documents, evidence
or other records. Discuss these fees with your attorney up front. While it is not always possible to predict
the additional costs that might arise in trial preparation, a good rule of thumb is to estimate about 10% of
your legal fees for these outside costs.
The Attorney-Client Trust Account
The money you pay to cover expenses (and legal fees in some states) is required to be held in an attorney-client
trust account. This money can only be used for approved fees and expenses, and any unused portion must be returned
to you at the termination of the legal service.
The law firm is not allowed to use your money for any purpose other than those stated in your retainer agreement,
nor is the law firm permitted to earn interest or other profit from the money. The law firm is simply a custodian
of this money to make sure it is available when needed.
The use of your trust account money for any purpose other than your case is illegal. Be sure your law firm is
reputable (check for state bar complaints, Better Business Bureau ratings, client testimonials and number of
years the attorneys have been in business). Ask who audits the books for the law firm, and make sure that the
accountant of record is reputable. Be sure you get regular statements of your trust account. If you have any
suspicions, ask for an independent audit of the trust accounts.
Price Shopping for Attorneys
As with any service, you get what you pay for. Beware of any attorney that offers to take your case for an
unusually low fee. At the very least, the attorney will not be able to afford to spend the time needed on your
case. Worse yet, the attorney may be unqualified to properly handle your case.
The outcome of your case will typically affect the rest of your life. If you find an attorney who will take
your case for $10,000 less than another attorney will, but the result is 5 years in prison, did you really save
money? How much is five years of your life worth to you? How do you think that criminal record will affect your
ability to find good employment for the rest of your life?
Shopping for an attorney is not like shopping for a new coat or a car. In most cases, you cannot "return" an
attorney if he or she does not work out for you. The most important consideration in selecting an attorney is
the quality of the defense that will be provided. You are not paying a law firm simply to take your case or
spend time on it. You are paying to get results.
Can I Finance Legal Fees?
A legal defense is usually (hopefully) a one-time event in your life that requires the absolute best that you can
afford. Unfortunately, most people do not readily have the cash required to mount the best defense. For this
reason, most clients need to finance their legal fees. Possible sources of cash for legal fees include family
members, friends, credit cards and home equity.
Don't wait another second if you have been accused of one of these crimes.
Call Smith and Garg today at 281.210.0010 or complete our Contact Form and let us assist you with your litigation needs.
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