Pay-As-You-Go Criminal Defense in the Bronx
While our preference is to receive the estimated cost of your case up front, as a single lump-sum retainer, we recognize that some people simply do not have the resources to do that. Therefore, in order to make our services available to more people, we also offer a pay-as-you-go option: under the pay-as-you-go option, there is no large retainer payment, and you pay for your defense one step at a time as your case moves forward.
How it works
- Free consultation: up to 30 minutes, at no charge.
- Bronx arraignment: $350 for everything on arraignment day, including reviewing the court paperwork, speaking with you and your family, and standing with you before the judge.
- Bronx court dates after arraignment: $525 each the appearance, plus up to 30 minutes of out-of-court work since your last court date, used for whatever your case needs.
- Other counties: $525 per court appearance. Pay-as-you-go pricing varies by county. Outside the Bronx, each court appearance is billed at $525, and travel to and from court is billed separately.
- Out-of-court work, all counties: $350 per hour for work beyond the 30 minutes included with a court date, billed in 6-minute increments ($35 each).
The more work your case requires, the higher your total cost. Every call, text, email, and voice note is logged and shows on your statement. When your case ends, by dismissal or by a plea with sentencing the same day, there are no more court dates to pay for.
What a typical case costs
Cost depends on how your case started, whether the top charge is a misdemeanor or a felony, and how many pre-trial court dates your case takes.
| Case type | DAT — Misdemeanor | Arrest — Misdemeanor | DAT — Felony | Arrest — Felony |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| How it starts | You received a Desk Appearance Ticket with a court date | You were arrested and are arraigned within about a day | You received a Desk Appearance Ticket on a felony charge | You were arrested on a felony charge |
| Arraignment | $350 | $350 | $350 | $350 |
| Pre-trial court dates (typical) | 3 × $525 = $1,575 | 3 × $525 = $1,575 | 4 × $525 = $2,100 | 4 × $525 = $2,100 |
| Each additional pre-trial court date | +$525 | +$525 | +$525 | +$525 |
| Additional out-of-court work (typical) | 2.5–5 hours ($875–$1,750) | 3–5.5 hours ($1,050–$1,925) | 5.5–8 hours ($1,925–$2,800) | 6.5–9 hours ($2,275–$3,150) |
| Typical total (dates shown) | $2,800–$3,675 | $2,975–$3,850 | $4,375–$5,250 | $4,725–$5,600 |
DAT — Misdemeanor
- How it starts
- You received a Desk Appearance Ticket with a court date
- Arraignment
- $350
- Pre-trial court dates (typical)
- 3 × $525 = $1,575
- Each additional pre-trial court date
- +$525
- Additional out-of-court work (typical)
- 2.5–5 hours ($875–$1,750)
- Typical total (dates shown)
- $2,800–$3,675
Arrest — Misdemeanor
- How it starts
- You were arrested and are arraigned within about a day
- Arraignment
- $350
- Pre-trial court dates (typical)
- 3 × $525 = $1,575
- Each additional pre-trial court date
- +$525
- Additional out-of-court work (typical)
- 3–5.5 hours ($1,050–$1,925)
- Typical total (dates shown)
- $2,975–$3,850
DAT — Felony
- How it starts
- You received a Desk Appearance Ticket on a felony charge
- Arraignment
- $350
- Pre-trial court dates (typical)
- 4 × $525 = $2,100
- Each additional pre-trial court date
- +$525
- Additional out-of-court work (typical)
- 5.5–8 hours ($1,925–$2,800)
- Typical total (dates shown)
- $4,375–$5,250
Arrest — Felony
- How it starts
- You were arrested on a felony charge
- Arraignment
- $350
- Pre-trial court dates (typical)
- 4 × $525 = $2,100
- Each additional pre-trial court date
- +$525
- Additional out-of-court work (typical)
- 6.5–9 hours ($2,275–$3,150)
- Typical total (dates shown)
- $4,725–$5,600
Felony estimates assume the charge is reduced and resolved in Criminal Court. These figures are for Bronx cases: in all counties other than the Bronx, each court appearance is $525 and travel to and from court is billed separately, while out-of-court work stays at $350 per hour.
Pre-trial hearings and trial: the number of pre-trial court dates is set by the court and the District Attorney, so the typical totals above change by $525 for each date your case actually has. Pretrial hearing days and trial dates are scheduled by the court; those dates are billed as additional court dates plus the preparation and in-court time they require, so they can be estimated only once the court schedules them. Cases that are indicted, go to hearings, or go to trial therefore cost more.
What out-of-court work covers
- Evidence review: the police paperwork, video, and other evidence the DA turns over.
- Speedy-trial tracking: monitoring the time the prosecution has to be ready for trial, which can lead to dismissal.
- Talking with the DA: negotiations and requests to reduce or dismiss charges.
- Talking with you: calls, texts, emails, voice notes, updates, and preparing you for each court date.
- Motions: written requests to the judge, including speedy-trial dismissal motions. A typical motion takes 2–4 hours.
- Hearings and trial: preparation, and every hour in court on a hearing or trial day.
Example: between two court dates, we spend 1 hour 12 minutes on your case. The first 30 minutes are included in the $525 court date fee, and the remaining 42 minutes are billed as 7 × $35 = $245. Included time that isn't used does not carry over.
What's included before you pay more
- 30 minutes with every court date. The appearance fee includes up to 30 minutes of out-of-court work since your last date: calls, texts, emails, letters, reviewing the other side's papers, negotiating, and preparing you for court.
- 30 minutes a month while nothing is scheduled. If your case is waiting on the court or the other side, 30 minutes of communication is included for that month. Unused time does not carry over to the next month.
- Beyond that, the hourly rate applies: $350 per hour. Additional time is billed in 6-minute increments, $35 each. We do not bill in dribs: time is accrued and appears on one itemized statement, not as a separate small invoice for a single call or text.
- How fast we answer. Non-emergency calls, texts, and emails are answered within one business day. If something cannot wait — an arrest, a lockout, a court date moved up — call and say it is urgent.
Paying as you go
- ACH or Credit/Debit Card Authorization required: you sign a form allowing us to charge your bank account or credit/debit card on each scheduled date. You'll know every date and amount in advance, so you can make sure funds are there and avoid overdrafts or declined payments.
- Arraignment: $350, due before the arraignment. For an arrest, it's due before we head to court.
- Each later court date: $525, charged no later than 7 days before that date.
- Additional work: an itemized statement of time beyond the included 30 minutes, charged no later than 1 day before your next court date.
- Travel (all counties other than the Bronx): travel to and from court is billed separately and shown on your statement.
- When your case ends: a final statement for any remaining work. Any credit is refunded.
Not included in our fees:
- Fines, mandatory surcharges, and court fees, which you pay directly to the court.
- Certificate of disposition: the court's fee is separate. If we obtain it for you, add one hour ($350).
- Investigators, experts, and court transcripts, billed at cost with your approval.
- Travel to and from court for appearances in all counties other than the Bronx, which is billed separately.
Get started
Call 888.886.3525 or visit www.ndlclaw.com for a free 30-minute consultation. If someone you love was just arrested, call now. We can be at Bronx Criminal Court for the arraignment.
Typical costs are estimates, not a quote or a guarantee. The number of court dates is set by the court and the District Attorney, and your final cost depends on the work your case requires. Fees and scope are confirmed in a written engagement agreement. Attorney Advertising.