I have put up this summary overview, called a “Quick Start” guide, to explain what happens from a person’s first call to my office through the end of a criminal case. Before we get to that, let me go over the seven most important things that I think you should know when looking for a lawyer.

First, and let’s face facts, price is an issue. I list my prices and at other places on this site. My prices are fair and reasonable, and are based upon what I know it will take to properly and completely handle a case with no extra padding built in, or corners cut. That almost always puts my fee somewhere in the middle range of what you will hear as you check around.

Second, you have to like the lawyer you are going to hire. Your lawyer is your spokesperson when dealing with the Prosecutor and the Judge. If you have reservations about the lawyer you hire, or just don’t feel “good” about him or her, whatever the price or anything else, it is highly unlikely that as time and the case moves forward, your doubts will be replaced by pure satisfaction.

Third, you have to trust your lawyer. I believe very strongly in being honest with my clients, right from the start of a case. That means never “sugar-coating” the truth, and sometimes it even means being the bearer of bad news. As the saying goes, “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” I hate unpleasant surprises, as I’m sure you do, as well.

Fourth, you have to know that your lawyer is experienced in your kind of case. I won’t ever waste your time or mine even talking about a case that doesn’t fit within my realm of experience. I don’t handle murder or rape cases. It would be impossible to list all of the cases I do handle and those I don’t, but I promise you that if I take on your case, you’ll be paying my fee for my experience, not my tuition.

Fifth, I think it’s vitally important that your lawyer know the Court where your case is being heard. The ability to give honest answers to your questions and to give an accurate picture of what’s likely to happen in your case comes directly from prior experience with the Judge and Prosecutor who will be handling it. The same charge can have two very different outcomes in different cities. Knowing those differences beforehand is the result of experience. That’s why I limit my criminal cases to Macomb, Oakland, Wayne, and St. Clair counties.

Sixth, I think it’s not only fair, but necessary to ask “What can you do for me?” Whether your case is going to cost $900, $1500.00, or $4400.00, you better be sure that you’re going to get that much benefit from what you are about to spend. It’s an honest question that deserves an equally honest answer.

Seventh, and perhaps most important, all this usually ends up in one, single, very important question. “Am I going to go to jail?” It is, of course, my entire mission to avoid that for my clients. My ultimate goal for my client is damage control; it’s my job is to minimize the consequences of a criminal charge. In the vast majority of the kind of cases that I handle, that means no jail. However, I will never simply tell a client what they want to hear. Instead, I will tell the truth, no matter how unpleasant it may be.

Facing a criminal charge, or charges, is stressful. You already know the emotions that go along with that. Now you have to find a lawyer. It seems that opinions, prices and personalities are all over the board. The more you look, the more confusing it seems to get.

It doesn’t have to be that way, and I make it my goal to make it easy, convenient and affordable. My approach is different. I like to think I’m different (but in a good way). So let’s get to that quick-start guide.

You or someone you care about has been arrested or charged with a crime

They may have already been charged, or are still waiting to be charged with a crime, and may or may not be out of jail. You are looking to hire a lawyer, and have questions. If they are still in jail, you may not know how to get them out. You’re not sure what the charges mean or what the outcome will be. What happens at an arraignment? I have a warrant for my arrest; what should I do? You need some help and answers, and I am here to give them.

Choosing the right lawyer

My initial consultations are done conveniently and confidentially, right over the phone, during regular business hours. Most people are scared and nervous about their charge or upcoming case, and would prefer to have information sooner than later. Why wait for an appointment, take time off from work or school, only to find out the lawyer you finally meet with is too expensive, or you don’t have a “feel good” relationship with the lawyer from the onset?

After speaking with you over the phone, I will generally suggest that you check out other law offices, as well, just to get a feel for what’s out there. I will remind you that you should always inquire about the price and what they can do for you. You can and should learn a lot from this first call. Many other law offices don’t give you these answers or spend much time with you on the phone. They require you to come in and see you in person for that first “consultation.” This is where I feel my office is very different from others. I will spend the time with you, answer your questions and tell you what I can do for you without the need to make an appointment. In each and every case, you will know exactly what my fee will be, what I can do for you, where I’m coming from and where your case is going to go.

Your call will be answered by a friendly staff member who will know what kinds of questions to ask you right from the start in order to know exactly what the situation is. We’ll want to know, who was arrested (you, husband, boyfriend, brother, sister, son or daughter, etc.), when and in what city. I believe strongly in knowing the law AND the Court, Prosecutors and other important personnel who will be involved in any particular case. In order to do that well, I limit my criminal practice to Macomb, Oakland, Wayne and St. Clair Counties. I deal with the same Prosecutors and appear in the same Courts, in front of the same Judges, day after day. It’s that kind of experience which allows me to give you an accurate picture of what is likely to happen in your case.

When you make an appointment, we’ll go over your situation in detail. Depending on your case this can take from one to two hours. When you leave, you’ll know exactly what to expect next, and what I’ll be doing for you.

The Court date

On your Court date (maybe your first, or your only Court date, depending on the kind of case you have) I’ll check into Court, confer with you briefly, and then go meet with the Prosecutor to discuss your case. In pretty much all misdemeanor cases except Drunk Driving, I am able to bring about a successful result right then and there and you won’t have to come back to Court anymore. Sometimes we have to come back a second time for something like a sentencing, but you’ll walk out of Court after that first date knowing almost exactly what to expect.

In felony cases, things are different. A felony case can only be handled and finalized in the County Circuit Court. The first real court date with the Attorney in a felony case is called a Preliminary Exam. This first court date is held in the local District Court where the case is brought.

Depending on the charge and where the case is being heard, it is sometimes possible for a felony charge to be reduced or “dropped” to a misdemeanor at that first court date. If that happens, you may (or may not) have to come back to Court again with me. Even in felony cases where the charge is not dropped to a misdemeanor at the Preliminary Exam, and which must continue to the County Circuit Court, I’ll be able to give you a pretty good picture of how things look and what you can expect as the case continues.

Whether your case is or was a felony or misdemeanor, and whether it’s wrapped up on the first, second, third or a subsequent Court date, the biggest concern anyone has is “what’s going to happen to me?” This question typically means something like “what is the Judge going to do to me at sentencing? Am I going to go to jail? Will I get probation? How much are the fines and costs likely to be?”

Unless someone has a bad prior criminal record, it’s usually not very difficult for me to keep a client out of jail. Whatever your situation, because of my experience and knowledge of the Court’s where I routinely practice, I can typically give an accurate estimation of what you are realistically facing from our first conversation. From then on, I have one primary concern: to make the negative consequences of your situation as minimal as possible. I guess you can call it damage control.

A lot goes into this, but it is one reason I restrict where I practice to the local courts. I know the Prosecutors, the Judges and the Probation Departments, and I know how they view things. I know what they consider important, and I know what doesn’t fly with them, as well. I will guide you through their world carefully, so you don’t step on any “land mines,” so to speak.

And through this whole process, you will always find my staff and I to be as friendly and helpful as we were on day one. We talk the language of real people. I will explain things in a way that you can understand so that you can make informed decisions and know what is really happening.

My job, as your lawyer, is to watch out for your interests throughout a case. Sometimes, that can involve interests you don’t even know you have while the case is going on. For example a person may be so happy to avoid jail or a lengthy term of probation that they are willing to accept a deal which, later, will screw up their Commercial Driver’s License or prevent them from getting a job in a certain field, or perhaps mean they can’t own a gun and go hunting next year.

Sometimes, you can find that what seemed like a good deal in the first place, wasn’t such a good deal after all. It might take more work and negotiating, but I’ll leave no stone unturned in order to make sure my client ends up with the best result humanly and legally possible. As I always say, no lawyer can ever do more, and I’ll never do less.

If you are facing a criminal charge and looking for a lawyer, you owe it to yourself to at least call me and get answers right away, before taking time off from work or hauling out to some appointment. I’m easy to talk to, and so is my staff. We are here to help.

FEE SCHEDULE

Fees are given as a “range,” meaning that depending on factors like the city the case is being heard in, and whether or not there is more than one charge in a case, the cost will almost always be no less and no more than what’s listed below. In multiple-charge cases, I usually just charge within the range for the most serious of the charges, and include any other, or lesser charges in that fee. That means no double-dipping of fees for multiple charges from the same arrest.

First Offense Drunk Driving: $950 to $1200.

Second Offense Drunk Driving: $1200 to $1500.

Third Offense (Felony) Drunk Driving: $2400 to $3600.

Felony Cases: $2400 to $4400, depending on the charges.

Misdemeanor Cases (except those below): $700 to 1500, depending on the charges.

Driving While License Suspended, First or other Offense: $700 to $1000.

Possession of Marijuana, First or other Offense: $700 to $1200.

Open Intoxicants in a Motor Vehicle: $600 to $900.

Minor In Possession of Alcohol: $500 to $800.

All other Traffic Offenses, (Misdemeanor or Civil Infraction): $400 to $900.

If you don’t see your type of case listed here, or you can’t figure out where it would fit in my price schedule, you can call and ask. With just a few questions about your prior record, the charge you are facing, and where the case is being heard, you can get an exact quote. Of course, it will always be somewhere in the range of fees you see here.