Criminal Defense
Short answer: misdemeanor defense in Shelby County General Sessions at 201 Poplar starts at $750. Felony defense starts at $1,500, and starts at $2,500 for higher-class and more complex felonies after we evaluate the case. Those are flat attorney fees. Court costs and fines are separate.
We quote your exact flat fee after a free consultation. Call the office at (901) 324-5000 or call or text the criminal line at 901-412-2973.
Fees at a glance
| Case type | Court | Flat fee from |
|---|---|---|
| Misdemeanor — theft, simple possession, simple assault, driving offenses | General Sessions, 201 Poplar | $750 |
| Misdemeanor domestic assault | General Sessions Div. 10 | $1,000 |
| DUI, first offense | General Sessions | $1,500 |
| Lower-class felony — Class D and E | General Sessions through Criminal Court | $1,500 |
| Higher-class or complex felony — Class A, B, C, multiple counts, forfeiture | Criminal Court | $2,500 |
| Probation violation | Court of original sentence | $750 |
These are starting points, not a menu. Where a felony falls between $1,500 and $2,500 depends on the class of the offense and on what the case actually requires once we have looked at it — that evaluation is part of the free consultation, and the number we give you is the number.
What moves the fee
- Downstairs or upstairs. Cases that resolve in General Sessions at 201 Poplar cost less than cases bound over to the grand jury and set in Criminal Court, because Criminal Court means more settings over a longer period.
- The class of the offense. A Class E felony and a Class B felony are not the same amount of work, and exposure drives how hard a case has to be fought.
- Counts and defendants. Multiple counts, co-defendants, or aggregated incidents all add work.
- Whether there is a suppression issue. A stop, a search, or a warrant that needs to be litigated means motion practice and a hearing.
- Trial. Cases that go to trial are quoted separately from cases resolved by negotiation or hearing.
- Experts and discovery. Blood testing, video, phone records, and forensic review carry costs beyond the attorney fee.
Flat fee, not hourly
Criminal defense here is handled on a flat fee. You know the number before you hire us, and it does not climb because a case took an extra setting. Payment arrangements are available on most cases — tell us what you can do and we will work with you.
What is not included
Court costs and fines are set by the court, not by us, and are paid separately. Probation supervision fees, alcohol and drug assessments, classes, restitution, and expungement filing fees are also separate. On a dismissed charge there is no expungement fee; on a diverted charge there is. In some felony cases the State pursues asset forfeiture, which is a separate proceeding from the criminal charge.
A word about the cheapest quote
A fee well below the market usually means someone has priced the case on the assumption that nothing will be contested — no suppression motion, no preliminary hearing, no real look at the stop or the search. That is a fine assumption right up until the case turns on exactly those things. Ask any lawyer you are considering what the fee covers and what happens if the case does not resolve at the first setting.
Fees by charge type
Drug charge lawyer cost · CDL ticket lawyer cost · traffic ticket lawyer cost
Related: misdemeanor defense · felony defense · what happens after an arrest · how bond works
Tell us what you are charged with and we will tell you the fee. Office (901) 324-5000 · criminal line 901-412-2973. Free, confidential consultation.