ATTORNEY FEES

How Much Is Your Freedom and Your Future Worth?

If you think you can't afford criminal defense counsel, ask yourself how much do you and your loved ones value your freedom and your future? Can you afford to not vigorously defend yourself? Can you afford anything but the best possible outcome of your criminal or motor vehicle case or your child's juvenile delinquency charge?

At the Law Office of Jerome Paun, we make every effort to minimize costs to our clients. But we won't kid you, effective legal defense against criminal, motor vehicle and juvenile delinquency charges that protects your rights, liberty and future does not come cheaply.

Most people do not plan for legal expenses to defend against criminal charges. They usually don’t have sufficient funds set aside to easily pay for legal defense when it becomes necessary. Most people need to reach into savings, use credit, or borrow money from family and/or friends to pay for their legal defense. Most people agree that an effective criminal defense that protects their liberty and future is well worth the expense. You have to decide, how much is your freedom and future worth?

Our Free Initial Case Consultation

At the Law Office of Jerome Paun, we want to help you afford the legal defense services we provide. Our initial consultations in criminal, juvenile, and motor vehicle offense matters are free with no obligation to retain our services. We have three main objectives for a successful initial consultation.

• First, we want you to leave our office knowing more about your legal situation than when you arrived.
• Second, we want you to leave our office with all of your questions answered.
• Third, we want you to leave our office feeling at least somewhat better and more relieved than when you arrived.

To get the most from your free initial consultation, please bring with you whatever paperwork you have concerning your case. Criminal Defense Attorney Paun conducts the initial consultation in criminal, motor vehicle offense, and juvenile delinquency cases. Joy, his administrative assistant usually conducts the initial interview for pardon applications. If you retain The Law Office of Jerome Paun, the initial consultation is included as part of the fixed fee.

For your free initial consultation with Attorney Paun please call us toll-free at (860) 455-4202 or send us an e-mail.

Our Fixed Fee Legal Services

At The Law Office of Jerome Paun we offer our clients fixed fee legal representation agreements that fit most legal situations. Fixed fee agreements are good for clients because they know up-front how much the representation will cost.

Pre-trial legal defense representation by The Law Office of Jerome Paun in criminal, motor vehicle offense, and juvenile delinquency matters is by fixed fee legal representation agreements that vary in amount depending on a variety of factors including but not limited to: the value to the client of legal defense representation against the charges; the seriousness and number of charges; the adverse consequences, including jail-time, the client is likely to suffer if convicted of the crimes charged; the number and location of courts in which the charges are pending; the client's prior criminal record, if any; whether the client is on parole or probation and may be subject to violation; the difficulty anticipated to resolve the charges, including whether the client is eligible for any pre-trial diversionary program; and counsel's knowledge, skill, ability, work, and time anticipated to resolve the charges.

Typical Costs For Our Fixed Fee Legal Services

• Pre-trial representation in cases involving only misdemeanor charges usually ranges from $2,500 to $5,000.
• Pre-trial representation in cases involving at least one felony charge usually ranges from $3,500 to $6,500 for less serious felonies, and from $6,500 to $10,000 for more serious felonies.
• Bail hearing only representation usually ranges from $1500 to $2500.
• Pre-trial representation for motor vehicle infractions only usually ranges from $750 to $1500
• Pre-arrest/investigation representation for police criminal investigations and other government agency investigations, such as the Department of Children and Families (DCF), usually ranges between $750 and $1500.
• Connecticut criminal pardon applications cost $1500, plus expenses, for assistance preparing and submitting the written application. An additional $1500 hearing retainer, plus expenses, will be charged for hearing preparation, representation, and advocacy but only if a hearing is granted.

In Connecticut, about 97-98 percent of all criminal cases are resolved before trial! The vast majority of our clients do not pay more than our fixed fee pre-trial retainer plus whatever, if any, expenses may be incurred for diversionary program application and program fees, substance abuse, psychiatric or medical evaluations and/or treatment, or private investigation if needed.

For your free initial consultation with Attorney Paun please call us toll-free at (860) 455-4202 or send us an e-mail.

OUR TRIAL AND TRIAL PREPARATION FEES

Only about two-three percent of criminal cases in Connecticut actually go to trial. Due to their unpredictable nature, legal representation in hearings requiring examination and cross-examination of witnesses, such as suppression hearings, or trial and preparation for such hearings, or trial are not covered by fixed fee pre-trial retainers. If such hearings are required or if a client decides to go to trial, additional trial and trial preparation fees will apply as explained in our legal representation agreements.

Our Hourly Rates

Trials and hearings that require examination and cross-examination of witnesses and preparation for such hearings and trials are billed at hourly rates. Attorney Paun's rate is $250 per hour and his legal assistant's rate is $75 per hour. If a matter is not covered by a fixed fee legal representation agreement or a client insists on being billed hourly, these hourly rates will apply.

Our Payment Arrangements

At the Law Office of Jerome Paun, we want to help you afford the legal defense services we provide. We are flexible in accepting whatever payment method works best for you. We accept payment in cash, by check or money order, and by major credit cards. We request payment in full before we begin legal representation but we are willing to work with clients to make reasonable payment plan arrangements when necessary in appropriate cases.

For your free initial consultation with Attorney Paun please call us at (860) 455-4202 or send us an e-mail.