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The Difference between a Cheap and Affordable Criminal Defense Attorney San Diego
Being involved in a criminal proceedings can prove really expensive, regardless of whether you are pressing charges or being charged. It seems only natural that the first search string to insert in Google would be ‘’affordable criminal defense attorney san diego’’. Seeing as the price of the service is an important factor, many people take it as the only factor in choosing a criminal defense lawyer. This is a mistake, as there are other features that should inform the decision.
That in mind, many people mistake ‘’cheap’’ for ‘’affordable’’. While you should do your best to find a lawyer who wouldn’t rip you off, be wary of lawyers who offer a really low price for services. They may be trying to compensate for the lack of expertise or experience with a seemingly competitive price.
Here are some guidelines that can help you distinguish between an affordable criminal defense lawyer and a lawyer that’s simply cheap.
The state of their offices
An attorney doesn’t have to have modest premises to be able to offer affordable rates for services. Also, there are some red flags that have nothing to do with how lavishly their offices are furbished.
Empty offices
A lot of empty offices can mean that the criminal attorney you’re thinking of hiring has a high employee turnover. That isn’t a red flag per se, but can indicate poor management or financial difficulties.
State of disrepair
Part of what makes an excellent lawyer is the image they project, especially the lawyer who you would like to represent you in court. They should command respect with appropriate attire and attitude. If the furniture in their offices is dilapidated, it is unlikely they pay necessary attention to the impression they make.
Unkempt office
A disorderly office full of clutter is a clear sign of disorganization and possibly inefficiency. Sure, some San Diego criminal attorneys may thrive in chaos, but there is always a risk of losing important documents, thus directly jeopardizing your case. A regular maid service is not really an expense.
Their staff
An affordable criminal defense attorney San Diegans trust rarely works alone. They usually have a team by their side. That’s why you should pay close attention to the lawyers’ staff.
They look dissatisfied
If you sense low office morale or genuinely unhappy staff members, it may be a sign of poor attorney-staff communication or even mistreatment on the attorneys’ part. The employees may be bullied, verbally abused or simply talked down to – leading to their dissatisfaction with the job and ultimately – a lack of real commitment to any case at hand, including yours. If they don’t have experience in the specific legal field you need, like expungement or fraud, you should be wary of taking them on.
Not enough staff
As stated above, a criminal defense attorney rarely works alone. Even though they do the most important part themselves, they typically rely on the team for everyday operational activities. A lack in staff members may indicate financial difficulties. However, there are attorneys who prefer working with a limited number of handpicked staff. It would be wise to discover which holds true for the criminal defense attorney you’re thinking of hiring.
Their billing practices
There can be so many red flags regarding the lawyer’s billing practices. Here are some of them.
Lack of transparency
The legal bill you will incur should be explained to you in detail. There are different tasks and processes a criminal defense attorney will perform in a San Diego criminal proceedings. These will be the tasks the lawyer has already performed, so they should be able to tell you exactly what they will do and what you would have to pay.
Hidden expenses
Some San Diego criminal defense attorneys only offer a seemingly low price for services, only to charge you more later. They try to hook the clients by offering cheap services, while ‘’forgetting’’ to mention additional expenses until it’s much too late. That is why it’s important to know the process in detail and know how much you would need to pay for individual services, tasks and procedures a lawyer will carry out.
No-Hidden-Charges Affordable Criminal Defense Attorney San Diego
Vik Monder of Monder Criminal Lawyer Group is a leading criminal defense attorney in San Diego. His clients respect and trust him because of his honesty, impeccable references and ethical integrity. Attorney Monder offers free consultations, so feel free to reach out and talk your case through.
