Criminal Defense Lawyer in Fullerton

Criminal Defense Lawyer in Fullerton

Fullerton police arrest you Saturday night on Harbor Boulevard—DUI leaving bar near CSUF campus, you blow 0.09%. Booked at Fullerton Police Department (237 W. Commonwealth Avenue), arraignment Monday at North Justice Center (1275 N. Berkeley Avenue, Fullerton). You post bail, thinking “how much does a criminal defense lawyer cost in California, can I afford this or should I use public defender?”

How Much Does a Criminal Defense Lawyer Cost?

How much does a criminal defense lawyer cost in California? Hourly rates vary by experience—entry-level defense attorneys charge $250 to $350 per hour, mid-level experienced attorneys charge $350 to $500 per hour, senior trial s charge $500 to $750 per hour, top-tier attorneys charge $750 to $1,200+ per hour. Flat fees depend on charge complexity—simple misdemeanor runs $2,500 to $7,500, DUI runs $5,000 to $15,000, felony runs $10,000 to $75,000+. What you get at each price point—at $5,000 to $10,000 for DUI you get basic representation (arraignment, plea negotiations, DMV hearing), at $10,000 to $15,000 you get full investigation (challenge breathalyzer calibration, Title 17 violations, rising blood alcohol defense, motion to suppress illegal traffic stop). The Orange County Public Defender is free if you qualify based on income, but average public defender at North Justice Center handles 500 active cases—they have seven minutes to review your file before arraignment, they cannot spend 20 hours investigating Title 17 violations in your breathalyzer test, they cannot hire forensic toxicologist to testify breathalyzer was improperly calibrated. Private attorney billing $400 per hour can spend 20 hours researching whether Fullerton police had probable cause for traffic stop, file suppression motion, force Orange County prosecutor to defend legality of stop—if evidence gets suppressed, DUI case gets dismissed. Is that equal justice under law when access depends on your ability to write $10,000 check?

How Much is a Retainer?

How much is a retainer for a criminal defense lawyer? Retainer is advance payment deposited into attorney’s trust account—attorney bills hourly against retainer balance, sends monthly invoices showing hours worked, either refunds unused portion or requires additional payment if retainer runs out. Typical retainer amounts—misdemeanor cases require $5,000 to $15,000, DUI cases require $5,000 to $15,000, felony cases require $15,000 to $50,000+. How billing works—you pay $10,000 retainer for DUI, attorney bills 20 hours at $400/hour ($8,000), represents you at DMV hearing ($1,000), files suppression motion ($1,000), total cost $10,000, retainer covers it. If attorney bills 30 hours ($12,000) plus $1,000 DMV hearing plus $1,000 motion ($14,000 total), you owe additional $4,000. Flat fees are predictable but higher upfront, hourly retainers are cheaper if case resolves quickly but expensive if goes to trial. Read retainer agreement carefully—some attorneys include non-refundable retainer clauses where they keep entire retainer even if your case settles after one hour of work. California State Bar rules require retainers be reasonable, but “reasonable” is subjective. Retainer system advantages defendants who can pay $10,000 upfront—Fullerton residents who cannot afford retainer get appointed counsel, creating two-tier justice system where access to investigation depends on wealth.

How to Choose the Criminal Lawyer?

How to choose the criminal lawyer? Start with North Justice Center experience—has this attorney tried cases at North Justice Center in Fullerton, does this attorney know prosecutors who work Orange County DA’s office, has this attorney handled cases from Fullerton Police Department? Local experience matters because criminal prosecution is intensely local—different DA offices have different policies, different judges have different views on suppression motions, different courthouses have different procedures. DUI expertise is CRITICAL—has this attorney defended DUI cases specifically, does this attorney understand breathalyzer science (Title 17 regulations, partition ratio, breath temperature, radio frequency interference), does this attorney understand rising blood alcohol defense (your BAC was below 0.08% while driving but rose to 0.09% by time of breath test 90 minutes later), can this attorney challenge DMV administrative suspension (separate hearing from criminal case, must request within 10 days of arrest under California Penal Code)? Trial experience is critical—has this attorney taken DUI cases to jury trial, or do they just negotiate plea bargains? Attorney who has never tried DUI case to verdict has no leverage in plea negotiations because prosecutor knows they won’t actually go to trial. Communication and fee transparency are non-negotiable—does this attorney respond to calls and emails, explain DUI penalties clearly (jail time, license suspension, SR-22 insurance for 3 years, DUI school, ignition interlock device), provide written retainer agreement with itemized billing? Red flags—attorney promises specific outcomes (“I guarantee dismissal”—no ethical attorney can promise outcomes), attorney has no DUI trial experience (only does plea bargains), attorney has no North Justice Center experience (practices in different county), attorney provides vague fee structure (won’t provide written retainer agreement).

Is $400 an Hour a Lot for a Lawyer?

Is $400 an hour a lot for a lawyer? $400 per hour is MID-LEVEL experienced attorney in Orange County—not entry-level, not top-tier. Entry-level attorneys charge $250 to $350 per hour, senior trial s charge $500 to $750 per hour, top-tier attorneys charge $750 to $1,200+ per hour. What $400/hour gets you—attorney with 10 to 15 years experience, has tried DUI cases to jury verdict, can handle motion practice (suppression motions challenging illegal traffic stop, motions to exclude breathalyzer evidence), can handle DMV administrative hearing, knows North Justice Center judges and Orange County prosecutors, understands Title 17 regulations for breathalyzer testing. When worth paying more for $750/hour top-tier attorney—multiple DUI with prior convictions, felony DUI with injury, commercial driver facing career-ending license suspension. When you can pay less for $250 to $300/hour entry-level attorney—first offense DUI with BAC barely over 0.08%, no aggravating factors, prosecutor offering standard plea deal (3 years probation, $1,800 fine, 3-month DUI school, 6-month license suspension). The hourly rate question isn’t “is $400/hour expensive”—question is “what am I getting for $400/hour and is that value worth it for MY case?” You’re facing DUI with BAC 0.09%, you need attorney who can file suppression motion arguing Fullerton police had no probable cause for traffic stop and challenge breathalyzer calibration records—$400/hour attorney with DUI motion practice experience is worth it. You’re facing first offense DUI with BAC 0.09%, prosecutor offering standard plea, you don’t need $750/hour top-tier attorney—$300/hour entry-level attorney can negotiate that plea. Hourly rates create access inequality—wealthy defendant pays $15,000 for forensic toxicologist to testify breathalyzer was improperly calibrated, working-class defendant gets public defender with no budget for expert witnesses. Same courthouse, same DUI charges, different outcomes based solely on ability to pay hourly rate for expert who can challenge BAC results.

212-300-5196.