Criminal Defense
Most criminal defense in Memphis is handled on a flat fee — one agreed price for the whole case, not an hourly meter that keeps running. For a straightforward misdemeanor that can be worked out in General Sessions, our fees start at $750 and climb from there based on how serious the charge is, whether it is a felony, and whether the case has to be tried. At Brooks Law Firm, we quote your exact flat fee after a free consultation, so you know the number before you decide anything. Call or text the criminal line at 901-412-2973 or the office at (901) 324-5000.
What actually determines the cost
Two lawyers can quote very different fees for what sounds like “the same charge,” because the price tracks the work the case will take. The things that move it most:
- Misdemeanor or felony. A Class A misdemeanor worked out in General Sessions is a different amount of work than a felony bound over to Criminal Court.
- Plea versus trial. A case resolved through negotiation costs less than one prepared for and taken to a jury. Most of a trial fee is the preparation, not the trial day.
- Complexity. Suppression issues, forensic evidence, expert witnesses, discovery volume, and co-defendants all add hours.
- Your record. Prior convictions can raise the exposure and the enhancement the State can seek, which changes the defense.
- Which court. Memphis City Court, Shelby County General Sessions, and the suburban and West Tennessee county courts each run differently, and some require more appearances than others.
- Diversion and expungement. Keeping a first offense off your record through diversion and expungement is often part of the goal, and sometimes a separate step.
Flat fee or hourly?
In criminal defense, a flat fee is normal and it is the client’s friend. You agree on one price for a defined scope of work, and you are not billed by the six-minute increment for every phone call. It removes the fear that asking a question will cost you money, and it means a hard case does not turn into an open-ended bill. Some firms quote hourly — the Memphis market for that runs roughly $100 to $350 an hour — but for most charges a flat fee is clearer and safer for the person paying it. Court costs, fines, and any bond are separate from the attorney’s fee; those are paid to the court, not to us.
What it typically costs, by charge
Our misdemeanor floor is $750, our felony floor is $1,500, and a first-offense DUI trial is $7,500–$10,000; a case that is more serious, contested, or tried runs higher than a floor. Your case may land above a floor depending on the factors above. We give you the exact number, in writing, after the free consultation.
| Charge | Typical Memphis flat-fee range* |
|---|---|
| Traffic ticket (single citation) | a few hundred dollars per ticket |
| CDL ticket | from $750 by court — see CDL ticket fees by court; no diversion is available to a commercial driver, so it is defended on the merits |
| Misdemeanor worked out in General Sessions | from $750 (our misdemeanor floor), rising with the seriousness of the charge |
| Theft / shoplifting (misdemeanor) | from $750 (misdemeanor floor); felony theft is higher |
| Drug charge | from $750 for misdemeanor possession; more for felony sale, delivery, or trafficking |
| Domestic assault (first offense) | from $750 for a first-offense misdemeanor |
| DUI (first offense, resolved) | mid four figures resolved; a first-offense DUI taken to a jury trial is $7,500–$10,000 |
| Felony (Criminal Court) | from $1,500 (our felony floor), rising with severity |
*General market ranges gathered from published Memphis attorney fee information, offered so you can budget. They are not a quote and not a guarantee. The only number that applies to your case is the one we give you after reviewing it.
What’s included, and how payment works
When we quote a flat fee, we tell you what it covers — the court appearances, the negotiation, the motions, and where trial sits relative to that fee. The initial consultation is free, whether you meet us at our Midtown office at 2299 Union Avenue or talk by phone. Se habla Español. If paying all at once is a hardship, ask — we would rather find a workable arrangement than have you go into a serious charge without a lawyer.
Why the cheapest quote isn’t the whole story
It is a fair question to ask what a defense costs, and it is a fair question to ask why one quote is lower than another. Sometimes a low fee means a lawyer does not plan to put in the hours the case needs, or does not expect to fight it. A ticket paid without advice is a conviction; a plea taken to save a few hundred dollars can cost far more later in insurance, a record, or a job. The right question is not only “what is the fee,” but “what does this fee buy, and what does a conviction cost me two years from now.” We will give you an honest answer to both, even when the honest answer is that you may not need us.
Talk to a lawyer about your case — free
The fastest way to find out what your case will cost is to tell us what you are charged with. Call the office at (901) 324-5000, or call or text the criminal line at 901-412-2973, for a free, confidential consultation. Brooks Law Firm defends criminal charges across Memphis, Shelby County, and the surrounding counties of West Tennessee. See our criminal defense overview for the full range of cases we handle.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a criminal defense lawyer cost in Memphis?
Most cases are handled on a flat fee. At Brooks Law Firm a misdemeanor worked out in General Sessions starts at $750, a felony starts at $1,500, and the fee rises for a case that is more serious, contested, or has to be tried. We quote your exact flat fee after a free consultation.
Is the fee flat or hourly?
For most charges we quote a flat fee — one price for a defined scope — so you are not billed by the hour for every call or email. Hourly billing exists in the market (roughly $100–$350 an hour), but a flat fee is usually clearer and safer for the client.
How much does a first-offense DUI lawyer cost in Memphis?
A first-offense DUI that is resolved through negotiation is typically a mid-four-figure flat fee. A first-offense DUI taken to a jury trial is $7,500 to $10,000, because most of that fee is trial preparation.
Do you offer free consultations?
Yes. The initial consultation is free and confidential, in person at 2299 Union Avenue in Midtown Memphis or by phone. Se habla Español.
Are court costs and fines included in the fee?
No. Court costs, fines, and any bond are paid to the court and are separate from the attorney’s fee. We explain what to expect on both so there are no surprises.
Will a cheaper lawyer get me the same result?
Not necessarily. A fee that is well below the market can mean a lawyer is not planning to put in the hours a case needs or does not intend to contest it. Ask any lawyer what the fee covers and how they would approach your case, then compare on value, not just price.