How Much Does a Criminal Defense Lawyer Cost in Texas?

If you are looking up what a criminal defense lawyer costs, you are probably staring at a charge and a budget at the same time. Here is a plain answer, and what actually goes into the number.

This is a general overview of how criminal defense fees work in Texas. It is not legal advice, and every case is priced on its own facts.

There is no single price

No honest lawyer can quote you a flat number from a search result. A criminal defense fee in Texas depends on what you are charged with, how much work the case is likely to take, and how far it has to go. A first misdemeanor that resolves early costs far less than a felony that goes to a jury. The fee for the same charge can also differ depending on the court and the county.

What you can do from the start is understand the pieces, so the quote you get makes sense.

What drives the cost

A few things move the number more than anything else.

• The level of the charge. A Class C or Class B misdemeanor sits at the low end. State jail and felony charges carry more exposure, more court settings, and more work, so they cost more.
• How complex the case is. A case with body-cam video, lab results, multiple witnesses, or a search that has to be challenged takes more hours than a clean, simple file.
• Whether it goes to trial. Most cases resolve before trial. The ones that go in front of a jury take far more preparation, and the fee reflects that.
• Experience. A lawyer who has tried cases in front of Collin County juries for years prices differently from someone just starting out, and that experience shows up in the fee.

Flat fee or hourly

Criminal defense is usually billed one of two ways.

A flat fee is a set price for a defined stage of the case, for example handling everything through a plea or a dismissal. You know the number up front. Many criminal defense lawyers work this way.

An hourly rate bills against a retainer, which is money paid in advance that the lawyer draws down as they work. You see this more often in long or document-heavy cases.

Neither one is automatically cheaper. What matters is reading what the fee covers.

Ask what the fee includes

The price only means something next to what you get for it. Before you hire anyone, ask what the fee covers and what would cost extra. A few questions worth asking:

• Does the fee include trial, or only the work up to a plea?
• Are investigators or expert witnesses billed separately?
• Who actually handles the case, the lawyer you are talking to or someone else in the office?

A low quote that quietly stops at the courthouse door is not really cheaper. It just moves the cost to later.

Do you even need a lawyer

People ask this most about misdemeanors, and it is a fair question. A misdemeanor is still a criminal charge. It can leave a permanent record, and that record can follow you to a job application or a professional license. A lawyer can look at whether the stop or search was lawful and whether the charge can be reduced or dropped before you ever agree to a plea. For many people, that review is worth far more than the fee.

What it costs to talk to Kent

The first conversation is free. There is no charge to sit down with Kent Starr, explain what happened, and hear how he reads the case.

If you decide to work together, the fee and payment terms are set in writing before you pay anything. Starr Law accepts card payments through CardPointe and by phone. And because this is a solo practice, the lawyer you hire is the lawyer who shows up in court. You are not handed off to a junior associate.

If you have been arrested in Collin County, start with the free consultation, or read what happens in the first 48 hours. You can also see the criminal charges Kent handles to find your specific situation.