Fees

Dan uses flat fees for privately retained criminal defense. The purpose is straightforward: to give clients certainty about legal fees, keep communication open, and allow the work to receive the attention it needs.

Court involves uncertainty. Decisions depend on evidence, judgment, and an assessment of probabilities. No lawyer can promise an outcome. But Dan can tell you what his fee will be for the work described in your agreement.

Why flat fees?

A criminal case is complicated enough without an unpredictable legal bill. A flat fee establishes the price for a defined scope of representation at the outset. You know what is included, what is separate, and when payment is due.

It also removes a barrier to communication. You should feel comfortable calling, asking a question, or meeting with your lawyer without calculating what each conversation will add to your bill. Communication about the work covered by the agreement is part of that work.

Attention to the work

Dan has used both hourly billing and flat fees. He prefers a structure that lets him concentrate on the evidence, explore a difficult question, and follow a useful line of inquiry without continually weighing each additional hour against the client’s resources.

Although he tracks his time, the flat fee does not increase simply because the agreed work takes longer than anticipated. The focus is on doing the job thoroughly. Reducing routine billing and collection work also leaves more time and attention for the defense itself.

Pretrial and trial fees

In most cases, Dan separates the pretrial fee from a trial fee. Most cases resolve without trial, and separating the fees keeps the initial cost more manageable. Clients do not have to pay the full price of trial representation at the outset.

The separate trial fee is typically smaller than the pretrial fee. It covers the additional demands of trial, including docket or trial calls, jury selection, trial preparation, and the trial days themselves, as specified in the agreement. A separate jury-trial fee is due before docket call or trial call—the status conference preceding jury selection.

The agreement explains whether a bench trial is included, whether a separate trial fee applies, and what sentencing work is covered. The fee structure is intended to make representation more manageable while supporting the preparation a trial requires.

A fee tailored to your case

Dan considers the charges, the evidence, the complexity of the issues, and the work the case is likely to require. Similar charges often involve similar fees, but the particular needs of a case can justify a different quote.

His solo practice combines limited overhead with substantial use of technology. Keeping the practice streamlined helps him pass cost savings on to clients and offer experienced representation at competitive flat fees. He also limits his caseload so that he can give each matter careful attention, with room for unexpected demands.

As a fourth-generation native Mainer with a practice spanning the state, Dan understands the value of a dollar and how hard people across Maine work for their money. He also understands that people with higher incomes or greater resources often have substantial commitments and competing demands on those resources. A criminal case can place financial strain on people across a wide range of circumstances.

His aim is to offer a fair price for the work each case requires and good value through thoughtful preparation, direct access to your lawyer, and careful attention to your defense.

Legal fees and other expenses

The flat fee covers the legal services specified in the written agreement. Other expenses—such as experts, investigators, medical records, or specialized exhibit preparation—may be separate. Dan discusses those expenses with the client before incurring them. The agreement identifies what is included and what is not.

Your written agreement

This page provides general information about Dan’s fees and fee structure. It is not a contract. The specific fees, services, payment terms, and other conditions are set out in each client’s written agreement, which Dan aims to make clear and easy to understand.

Payment and a quote

Dan accepts credit cards, debit cards, bank checks, personal checks, and cash. A credit or debit card payment link is generally included with the agreement. The initial flat fee is paid up front.

Use the short inquiry form or call Dan to discuss your case and a tailored flat-fee quote. The written agreement sets out the scope of representation, applicable fees, expenses, and payment terms.