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re: What's it like being a defense attorney, and what kind are you?
Posted on 3/16/26 at 9:06 pm to SlowFlowPro
Posted on 3/16/26 at 9:06 pm to SlowFlowPro
quote:
It started with family lawyers. They consider it a lost hour even if they aren't primarily an hourly type of firm. I kind of get it but it's really just a way to squeeze people and make them feel pot committed. Sunk cost fallacy and what not. The person thinks "I don't want to keep throwing away $250 every consult"
But people intentionally lawyer shop in family cases to try to conflict out counsel. That doesn’t really exist in criminal. Further, the flip side to that is people don’t want to throw away $250 for multiple consults, so they are going to make their decision before they walk into an office. If you’re the only big name in town, Godspeed. If you aren’t, you just forfeited the chance to make your pitch.
I generally wouldn’t sit there and dole out advice for free (unless I’ve already decided I don’t want the case or they flat can’t afford me), but I could usually figure out in about 15 minutes whether this was a possible fit and within 30 minutes whether I wanted the case for what appeared to be something they could afford. I place a very high value premium on my time, but that seems to me penny wise and pound foolish.
1
Posted on 3/16/26 at 9:08 pm to KemoSabe65
quote:
What would you estimate each of those trials cost? Sorry I want clear originally.
I sincerely don’t know enough details about those cases to even venture a guess. Even though I don’t really do it for a living anymore, following criminal cases still feels a lot like work to me
Posted on 3/16/26 at 9:13 pm to Joshjrn
I've thought about it
You obviously credit them the consult fee if they retain you.
Extra 20-30k in revenue while spending less time in consults (so more free time or lawyer time
More serious potential customers
Etc
You obviously credit them the consult fee if they retain you.
Extra 20-30k in revenue while spending less time in consults (so more free time or lawyer time
More serious potential customers
Etc
This post was edited on 3/16/26 at 9:19 pm
Posted on 3/16/26 at 9:16 pm to Mushroom1968
So to the attorneys, do you ever get intimidated by the big-name ones? Ever get ones you know it's going to be an easy case for you?
Posted on 3/16/26 at 9:24 pm to SlowFlowPro
quote:
You obviously credit them the consult fee if they retain you. Extra 20-30k in revenue while spending less time in consults
80-120 consults per year that paid a $250 fee and didn’t hire you? That sounds really high. Is it not?
And again, I’m solely focusing on criminal. With PI work, I get charging a bit to sift out the idiots who don’t have a case, and I’ve already mentioned family. But in criminal, 99% of the people who walk into your office have either already been arrested or are likely to be arrested imminently. The case already exists. It’s just a question of who they hire.
Posted on 3/16/26 at 9:28 pm to Mushroom1968
quote:
So to the attorneys, do you ever get intimidated by the big-name ones? Ever get ones you know it's going to be an easy case for you?
Over time, lawyers develop reputations for how hard they are willing to work. The ones on the extreme ends of the bell curve: those who don’t do shite and those who are cutting edge cause the most problems as opposing counsel. The ones in the middle of the curve are easiest to go against. They do enough work that you aren’t having to hunt them down for basic shite, but they aren’t doing anything particularly surprising.
Posted on 3/16/26 at 9:35 pm to Rouge
quote:for the record
I defend insurance companies against scum that try and file bogus injury claims. I've gotten to know a lot of private detectives. As far as defense work, it's pretty good
Most insurance companies are scumbags too
Pretty much scumbags all around it seems
frick State Farm
Posted on 3/16/26 at 11:02 pm to Mushroom1968
Lawyers in general seem to have a poor reputation with the uniformed and ignorant.
The ones I've used have been men and women of integrity, and have provided my business with wise counsel; I feel fortunate to have found them.
Even the law firms I have had as clients were good to deal with, with one exception.
Defens attorneys also defend innocent people.
Cops will lie just as much, if not more so, than the general population.
The ones I've used have been men and women of integrity, and have provided my business with wise counsel; I feel fortunate to have found them.
Even the law firms I have had as clients were good to deal with, with one exception.
Defens attorneys also defend innocent people.
Cops will lie just as much, if not more so, than the general population.
Posted on 3/16/26 at 11:29 pm to N2cars
quote:
Defens attorneys also defend innocent people.
Occasionally
Posted on 3/17/26 at 5:38 am to Slippy
quote:
soul crushing insurance defense
Meh, more like underpaid insurance defense. At least you don’t have to deal with crazy plaintiffs.
Posted on 3/17/26 at 6:29 am to Giantkiller
quote:
a hill I'll die on.
... a pile you'll die on, according to TD.
Posted on 3/17/26 at 9:04 am to biglego
quote:
Occasionally
Agreed, but that's important.
Especially if it's you.
A TlHP officer just made the news b/c he arrested 8 completely sober people for DUI. (At various times)
Worse, his pussy CO knew about it.
What did that cost those people in dollars, reputation, and aggravation?
This post was edited on 3/17/26 at 9:08 am
Posted on 3/17/26 at 9:10 am to SlowFlowPro
quote:
I don't get into trial paths that often but one thing I always have to explain to people is that trials aren't about the truth. They are about evidence. Many times these can overlap, but that's not always the case. Trials are reconstructing events in the past based on the rules of evidence.
The state has the burden to prove the elements of the crime with their evidence. What actually happened isn't relevant outside of that.
I heard the Law & Order intro in my head as a read this.
Posted on 3/17/26 at 10:17 am to HarryHoudini
quote:
My college professor brought in Jose Biaz to discuss defending Casey Anthony.
Much easier to defend an innocent person, like her.
Posted on 3/17/26 at 12:47 pm to Giantkiller
quote:
Even as vile and disgusting as they may be, they're still far less pieces of shite than personal injury attorneys. And that's a hill I'll die on.
Why are personal injury attorneys “pieces of shite”?
Posted on 3/18/26 at 12:50 am to SlowFlowPro
quote:that was exactly my guess as to the cost as well
That DR case wouldn't shock me if it went over $300k. Id listen to 400k.
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