In criminal cases, it is necessary that retainers be paid up front before representation starts. There are many reasons for this. One important reason is that in a criminal case, once an attorney makes a Court appearance and is "of record", the attorney cannot withdraw unless the judge allows him to do so. If the case is near trial, the judge might not let the attorney withdraw just because his client hasn't paid. Therefore, upfront retainers are necessary.

The retainer is non-refundable. Due to my 23 years of experience, often times I am able to resolve a case based upon my experience in a short period of time. Although I have an hourly rate, you are paying me to use my experience and have the case resolved as quickly as possible. However, sometimes, a case must go to trial.

Below is an example of a typical fee agreement. All arrangements are in writing to avoid confusion and misunderstandings.