CostGuide

Legal & Financial

Criminal Defense Attorney cost in the US

Nationally, Criminal Defense Attorney runs about $5,000 per case. In the lowest-cost cities in this guide it is closer to $3,900, and in the highest-cost cities about $7,100.

Typical cost

Most people pay about

$5,000

per case

On the low end
$1,500
On the high end
$20,000

Estimated from national price data. Insurance, coverage, and the details of your situation can change the real number a lot. Not a quote.

What moves the price

  1. Charge severity
  2. Trial vs plea
  3. Public vs private
  4. Experience
  5. Investigation

Ways to pay less

  1. Ask about payment plans
  2. Get a written scope
  3. Consider a public defender when appropriate
  4. Do not discuss the case publicly
  5. Request an early case assessment

Lowest-cost cities for Criminal Defense Attorney

PlaceTypicalRange
National typical$5,000
$1,500 to $20,000
Brownsville, TX$3,900
$1,170 to $15,600
Jackson, MS$4,000
$1,200 to $16,000
Laredo, TX$4,000
$1,200 to $16,000
McAllen, TX$4,000
$1,200 to $16,000
Shreveport, LA$4,000
$1,200 to $16,000
Amarillo, TX$4,100
$1,230 to $16,400
El Paso, TX$4,100
$1,230 to $16,400
Lubbock, TX$4,100
$1,230 to $16,400

Highest-cost cities for Criminal Defense Attorney

PlaceTypicalRange
National typical$5,000
$1,500 to $20,000
Honolulu, HI$7,100
$2,130 to $28,400
San Francisco, CA$7,000
$2,100 to $28,000
New York, NY$7,000
$2,100 to $28,000
San Jose, CA$6,900
$2,070 to $27,600
Sunnyvale, CA$6,800
$2,040 to $27,200
Santa Barbara, CA$6,700
$2,010 to $26,800
Cambridge, MA$6,700
$2,010 to $26,800
Fremont, CA$6,600
$1,980 to $26,400

Criminal Defense Attorney in every city

Typical estimate for each city. Open one for the full range.

District of Columbia
Mississippi
New Hampshire
North Dakota
Rhode Island
South Dakota

Questions people ask

Criminal Defense Attorney: what does it cost?

Across the US, Criminal Defense Attorney typically costs about $5,000 per case, with most prices between $1,500 and $20,000.

Where is Criminal Defense Attorney cheapest?

Among the 250 cities in this guide, the lowest estimates are in Brownsville, TX, Jackson, MS, Laredo, TX, at about $3,900.

Is this a quote?

No. These figures are estimates built from national price data and each city's cost of living. A local pro will price your actual job.