I prefer to charge a block fee for my work. This gives you peace of mind that your legal bills will not continue to climb for a case that might take as long as a year. After over 30 years of practicing nothing but criminal law, I have an excellent eye for how much time and energy a case will take. Block fees make a lawyer efficient. I don’t waste time on unnecessary tasks that can drive up an hourly fee. I prefer to focus on the actions that will get us the results we want.
There may be certain cases, however, where an hourly fee is appropriate because the scope of the project is uncertain. In those cases I will do my best to keep you up to date on the amount of time the matter is taking, so you can make decisions about how best to spend your money.
Disbursements for experts and other fees are always the responsibility of the client. Retainer agreements are always welcome and easy to draft up, to protect us both.
My fees have ranged from a few thousand dollars to a few hundred thousand dollars. Most matters are solved for around $5,000.00. I accept payment plans, and I can receive payments by credit cards. While I can be reasonably flexible, all fees must be paid in full before the case is completed.
Tax on legal fees is 13% (HST).