Criminal Defense Fees
We publish our criminal defense fees because you should know what the case will cost before you are standing in arraignment. The prices below are our standard rates as of 2026, confirmed in a written retainer agreement before any work begins. Every flat fee lists exactly how many court appearances it includes; a flat fee is the price of the work it lists, not a cap on the case.
Consultations: the first 30 minutes are free. Additional consultation time is billed at $350 per hour in 6-minute increments, and we tell you before any chargeable time is spent. The same rate applies to out-of-court work in a criminal matter. Court dates, hearing days, and trial days are priced as fixed events so you always know what the next step costs.
Two ways to pay for a criminal case
| Arrangement | Best for | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Flat fee | Cases with a defined path: a desk appearance ticket, a violation, or a misdemeanor expected to resolve before hearings | One price for a stated stage and number of appearances, paid in full or in installments |
| Pay-as-you-go | Cases where the number of court dates is set by the court and the district attorney, including felonies | $350 for the arraignment and $525 for each court date after arraignment, with 30 minutes of out-of-court work included with each date |
See the full criminal defense pay-as-you-go schedule.
Consultations
| Service | Fee | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal defense consultation — first 30 minutes | Free | Charge review, exposure, and next steps |
| Consultation time beyond 30 minutes | $350 per hour | Billed in 6-minute increments, only with your consent |
Criminal defense flat fees
| Stage | Fee | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Desk appearance ticket or violation | $2,000 | Arraignment through disposition, up to 3 appearances |
| Misdemeanor — arraignment through pre-trial disposition | $3,500 | Discovery review, motions, plea negotiation, up to 5 appearances |
| Misdemeanor — pre-trial hearing | $1,500 per hearing day | Hearing day, preparation included |
| Misdemeanor — trial | $5,000 bench / $7,500 jury | Up to 3 trial days |
| Felony — local criminal court through indictment | $7,500 | Arraignment, bail, grand jury, felony hearing, up to 5 appearances |
| Felony — Supreme Court after indictment | $7,500 | Arraignment on indictment, discovery, motions, up to 6 appearances |
| Felony — pre-trial hearings | $2,500 per hearing day | Hearing day, preparation included |
| Felony — trial | $15,000 | Up to 5 trial days |
These are the firm's lump-sum fees, and each covers only the number of appearances listed in the table. Where the case may go to hearings or trial, or where the number of court dates is not yet known, we recommend pay-as-you-go instead, so you pay for the court dates the case actually has: a free consultation of up to 30 minutes, $350 for the arraignment, $525 for each court date after arraignment with up to 30 minutes of out-of-court work included, and $350 per hour for work beyond that, in every county. Pay-as-you-go pricing varies by county: outside the Bronx each court appearance is $525, and travel to and from court is billed separately. Typical pay-as-you-go totals run $2,800 to $5,600, depending on whether the case starts with an arrest or a Desk Appearance Ticket, whether the top charge is a misdemeanor or a felony, and how many pre-trial court dates the case has: each additional pre-trial court date adds $525. The court and the district attorney set the number of pre-trial dates. Pre-trial hearing days and trial dates are scheduled by the court, and are billed as additional court dates plus the preparation and in-court time they require, so they can only be estimated once the court schedules them. The felony estimates assume the charge is reduced and resolved in Criminal Court; cases that are indicted, go to hearings, or go to trial cost more.
How payment works
- Most flat fees can be paid in two or three installments over 60 days.
- We accept credit and debit cards, ACH bank transfer, Zelle, checks, and cash.
- Court surcharges, transcripts, investigators, and expert fees are billed at cost with your approval.
- Flat fees are earned in stages. If a case ends early, the unearned portion is refunded. No fee is ever non-refundable.
Frequently asked questions about criminal defense fees
How much does a criminal defense lawyer cost in the Bronx?
A misdemeanor from arraignment through pre-trial disposition is a flat $3,500. A felony from local criminal court through indictment is $7,500, and a desk appearance ticket or violation is $2,000. Each flat fee covers the number of court appearances listed in the table above.
Is pay-as-you-go cheaper than a flat fee?
It depends on how the case resolves. Pay-as-you-go is $350 for the arraignment and $525 for each date after that, so a case that resolves at the first or second appearance costs less than a flat fee, and a case that runs through many dates costs more. Because the court and the district attorney set the number of dates, pay-as-you-go is the honest way to price a case whose length is not yet known.
Do you offer payment plans?
Yes. Most flat-fee criminal matters can be split into two or three installments over 60 days with a signed card or bank authorization.
Can I get a free consultation?
Yes. The first 30 minutes are free. Beyond that, consultation time is billed at $350 per hour in 6-minute increments, and you are told before the extra time is spent.
Call 888.886.3525 or book a consultation.
Attorney Advertising. Fees shown are the firm's standard rates as of 2026 and may be adjusted for a particular matter; the written retainer agreement controls. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.