Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

Gave a Law Firm $5,000 to help with my boyfriend's case.

Lawyer saw Client in jail one time and only for an hour

Also saw the family after he visited client in jail, for an hour as well.

Client got out of jail without the help of Lawyer...

Does the firm have the right to keep $5,000?

Also, this case never went to court

plus, I never signed any paper works

They email them to me but, was never signed


Asked on 4/21/11, 11:18 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Anthony Roach Law Office of Anthony A. Roach

Client got out of jail without the help of Lawyer...

Does that mean he escaped?

Answering your question is going to depend on any agreement between you and the attorney. It is going to depend on whether the fee is a true retainer, or advance for fees and costs. The fact that you did not sign a written retainer, as I can gather from your e-mail, means that the oral contract is voidable at your election, although the attorney is entitled to collect a reasonable fee on the basis of his actual time spent on the matter.

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Answered on 4/21/11, 4:45 pm


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