Criminal attorneys can be expensive. After all, your liberty is at stake. Good criminal lawyers in California state court can charge from $10,000 for a basic felony charge into six-figures for serious cases. Obviously, the attorney’s reputation, track record, and experience are significant factors in what the fee for his or her representation will be.

The structure for a criminal attorney’s fees are often structured with a non-refundable “retainer” for initial representation through a certain stage of the proceedings. Thereafter, further fees are negotiated through different stages of a case. A trial fee is usually charged, as that is the most time-intensive portion of the case, and this can get very expensive.