A Word About Fees
skip to navigationAt Adler Bytensky Prutschi we understand that paying for a criminal defence lawyer is never something families have budgeted for. It is also an expense that seems incredibly unfair - after all, if you are innocent of the charges, why should you have to pay thousands of dollars to defend yourself?
The unfortunate reality is that facing a criminal charge is a lot like being diagnosed with a serious illness. It may not be your fault. You may have done nothing wrong. But you still want to hire the best doctor you can to treat that illness.
Our firm generally works on a block fee basis rather than on an hourly rate. You will meet with one of our lawyers to have an initial interview where he or she will review your case and discuss early plans for your defence. At the end of that meeting, your lawyer will quote you a block fee for all their services including attending court for your trial. This fee varies substantially depending on the seriousness of the charge, the estimated length of time it will take to resolve, and the seniority of the particular lawyer assigned to handle your case.
Our firm has found that clients very much appreciate the block fee arrangement rather than being quoted enormous hourly rates. With a block fee you can accurately budget for your legal expenses without any nasty surprises at the end of the month. You can also feel comfortable calling your assigned lawyer as many times as necessary to have things explained to you or to ask questions - you are not 'on the clock' and will not be charged extra for these calls.
Experienced legal representation can be expensive. Much like other professionals, high quality criminal defence lawyers command significant fees for the important work that they do. However, Adler Bytensky Prutschi recognizes that very few people have the financial capacity to pay thousands of dollars up front for their defence. With six lawyers at various levels of experience, we have the flexibility to offer an outstanding defence while maximizing the value of your legal investment. At your initial client meeting, your lawyer will work out a payment plan that fits your needs and your budget. ABP accepts Visa, Mastercard and American Express to further assist you when paying your legal fees.
A word to referring lawyers
A substantial part of our practice comes by way of referral from other legal professionals. As a lawyer, you can feel comfortable referring your clients to Adler Bytensky Prutschi for expert criminal law advice and assistance without worrying about losing that client's corporate/commercial or other work to another firm.
Our practice is restricted to criminal litigation and we always respect our referral sources.
A word to clients with non-criminal legal questions
At ABP, our lawyers have spent their careers honing their skills in criminal defence law and we restrict our practice to criminal litigation.
If you require assistance in another area of law, we would be happy to make a referral to an experienced colleague in the field of law you require. Our partners and associates frequently work with talented lawyers in all areas of law including: personal injury, family, corporate / commercial, real estate, employment, immigration, and intellectual property.
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