Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

It's "true" if that is his fee. Did you sign a contract with this attorney? That is where to look as to what the original fee paid covers.

If you're asking whether it is the court or judge that sets a fee at a certain amount for a particular charge or violation, the answer is no. The attorney sets their fee. Is it a private attorney you hired or a panel attorney who was assigned at arraignment?

His fees are whatever you and he negotiated in his Retainer Agreement. Read it and then discuss it with him. What you quoted for a trial cost is not unreasonable at all. Many attorneys charge more than that.

The first thing that you need to do, is to read the retainer agreement that you signed. I presume that there was one. Typically, if a matter goes to trial, there will be substantially more in attorney's fees, than to just go through the pre-trial stage. Whether or not, what you have been quoted is a fair fee also depends on what you are being charged with by the prosecution.

BARRY BESSER

www.besserlaw.com