Exploring The Legal Process

If you're planning on hiring a private lawyer to help you with your criminal charges, you probably already know that you are going to have to pay for these services. Even though this can put a pinch on your budget, it's usually entirely worth it to hire and pay an attorney who will help defend you in your case. What you should know is that different lawyers use different types of billing.

Most lawyers will require you to pay a retainer up front so that they can get started on your case. Then, they might choose between one of two common types of billing: hourly or case billing. With hourly billing, as the name suggests, you'll pay your attorney for the number of hours that he or she works on your case. With case billing, your attorney will determine his or her fees based off of the case and will charge you one set price to handle things for you. Each type of billing can have its benefits, but these are a few reasons why case billing can be a better option.

1. It's Easier to Compare Costs Between Lawyers

It's always a good idea to talk to a few different lawyers before hiring one to handle your case. Of course, you shouldn't just be concerned about cost when meeting with different attorneys; you should also look for someone who is experienced and who you think will work hard to defend you. However, price will probably be at least some of the consideration. When attorneys charge by the hour, it can be tough to compare costs between lawyers, since some lawyers might end up billing you for more hours. When you're given a rate for handling the entire case, however, you can more easily compare costs.

2. You'll Know What to Expect

When you're dealing with a criminal case, you have to deal with a lot of unknown factors. For example, you might not know what is going to happen with your case and what the consequences might be. You probably don't want to worry about also not knowing how much you're going to have to pay in legal fees. With case billing, you'll know exactly how much your lawyer will charge, and you'll be able to plan for it without worrying about any nasty surprises.

3. You Don't Have to Worry About Looking Over Your Bill

It's always a good idea to look over your bill from your attorney to make sure it's accurate. However, it can be tough to verify things like the number of hours that your lawyer actually worked on your case. With case billing, you don't have to worry about these things.