Fraud is considered a ‘white-collar’ crime because of its non-violent nature and the fact that it is usually committed against commercial or government institutions for the purposes of financial gain. According to centrelink fraud lawyers , most fraud charges are felonies, so they are prosecuted by the federal government.
The hourly rate that a given attorney will charge varies widely. You can expect to pay somewhere between $150 and $700 per hour for criminal defense in a fraud case. It will take many visits to the courtroom and many hours for the entire case to play out. So, you can expect your total bill to be between $10,000 to $15,000.
How Much Do Lawyers Charge For Fraud Cases?
The US Constitution guarantees you the right to a free attorney in the event that you are criminally prosecuted.
That is, of course, only if the court finds that you are indeed unable to afford a lawyer. On the other hand, if the court determines that you are able to afford an attorney, then you will have to pay for one yourself, even if that means forfeiting assets to do so.
The attorney fees for fraud vary widely depending on many aspects including the type of crime, how much money was involved, and where the crime took place.
Do I Have To Hire A Lawyer If I Am Charged With Fraud?
If the court determines that you can afford a lawyer, but you still don’t want to pay for one, then you always have the option of representing yourself. But representing yourself in a fraud case is something that most legal professionals would strongly advise against.
You may be able to represent yourself when you are fighting a traffic ticket, but for allegations this serious you are going to need a professional to handle your case.
Do Lawyers Charge A Flat Rate For Fraud Cases?
Some lawyers charge a flat rate and others charge an hourly rate, so it’s crucial to discuss payment details with an attorney before hiring them. In fraud cases, it’s pretty rare for a lawyer to charge a flat rate.
This is because fraud cases are all relatively unique. This generally applies to more serious crimes, however, because for some misdemeanor cases lawyers will commonly charge a flat fee of $1,000 to $3,000.
But it’s important to remember that an hourly rate is the most common type of arrangement used by lawyers that handle fraud cases.
Do Fraud Attorneys Charge An Up-Front Fee?
For cases that don’t result in any kind of payout (such as a fraud case), the client will be expected to pay some sort of up-front retainer fee. This is to ensure that a certain portion of the lawyer’s time is covered. Only once the retainer amount is used does the hourly rate begin in most cases.
What Types of Fraud Crimes Are There?
There are many different types of fraud cases including scams, embezzlement, wire fraud and more:
- Fraud;
- Securities fraud;
- Misrepresentation;
- Tax evasion;
- Money laundering;
- Bank fraud;
- Embezzlement;
- Computer and Internet Fraud;
Other examples include:
- Using a computer or information in an unauthorized or malicious way
- Applying for credit cards using someone else’s name
- Bankruptcy Fraud (Misleading a creditor or creditors, concealing assets)
- Bribery (offering of money or anything of value which is used for the purpose of influencing someone)
- Counterfeiting
How Much Will A Fraud Lawyer Cost Me?
The cost for a fraud case depends on these factors:
- The lawyers experience level
- The lawyers location
- The average hourly rate in your area
It is important to note that a lawyer has to prepare every case as if it were going to trial, whether or not it does.
So, that will cause the attorney to spend money on things like paperwork and s investigations that may seem hard for you to understand. The reason this is done is because the lawyer has to be totally prepared for trial.
Do Lawyers Bill For Any Additional Work?
Absolutely. Lawyers charge fees for expert witnesses and investigators. Remember, nothing is free and these investigators and witnesses need to be paid for their services.
Some other additional fees that a lawyer my charge in a fraud case include:
- The conducting of research
- Obtaining testimony and interviews
- Photocopy or other production fees
The amount that costs will depend on several factors such as the experience level and the amount of work that witnesses or investigators have to do. For large cases, you can expect these auxiliary fees to cost at least $7,500.
Should I Contact a Lawyer For My Fraud Case?
Yes, it is essential to hire an experienced lawyer for any fraud charges you are facing. Fraud is a very serious crime and you can face many years in prison, depending on the fraud that was committed.
While you are able to represent yourself in court, a lawyer will be able to professionally review your case and determine if there are any defenses available to you that you simply don’t know about.
There are other ways having a lawyer can help. The best lawyer for fraud will be able to negotiate with the prosecutor to get your charges reduced. They can also help bargain for a lighter sentence. So, having a lawyer help you with your fraud case could be the difference between a free future or one spent behind bars.
Conclusion
Although fraud is considered a white-collar crime, it’s still a serious charge. Depending on the circumstances, if you have been charged with fraud you could be facing several years in prison.
So, it’s best to hire a lawyer. The problem is, it can be difficult to shop for the best lawyer for fraud if you are unfamiliar with what the normal pricing is.
The hourly rate for a fraud lawyer varies widely. You can expect to pay somewhere between $150 and $700 per hour for your defense if you are charged with fraud.
After all the courtroom visits, paperwork, and auxiliary fees, you can expect a lawyer to charge somewhere between $10,000 and $15,000 dollars for the entire fraud case.