Fees
I will happily have a preliminary discussion of your case with you in person or by telephone, without charge or obligation.
Based on the type of case and what has to be done immediately, I will tell you what retainer (initial payment) I will need if you decide to hire me, and what work on your behalf that initial payment will cover. Work done under the initial retainer includes work that has to be done right away like getting bail or changing bail conditions and setting Court dates. It also includes obtaining as much information about your case as possible and giving you an assessment and choices of how it might be defended. I will not ask you for more money until I have investigated the case, can talk to you with confidence about your options, and can quote firm fees based on those options.
Fees are determined on a case by case basis and vary widely, from minor charges resolved after brief discussions with the Crown, to long serious trials. Factors influencing the fee include seriousness of the charges, complexity of factual or legal issues, time to be spent in preparation and in court, and your financial circumstances. They are also often influenced by the result I can achieve.
In the end it is important to me that we agree a fee which you accept as reasonable in all the circumstances. Most criminal cases take many months at least, and most clients pay their fees by installments. I have very rarely had a client dissatisfied over fees.