Drug Charges
Most drug defense in Memphis is handled on a flat fee. Misdemeanor drug possession in Shelby County General Sessions starts at $750. A felony drug charge — sale, delivery, manufacture, or possession with intent — starts at $1,500 and rises with the schedule, the weight, and the level of the offense. We quote your exact flat fee after a free consultation. Call or text the criminal line at 901-412-2973 or the office at (901) 324-5000.
Drug charge lawyer fees
| Situation | Our flat fee |
|---|---|
| Misdemeanor possession, Shelby County General Sessions | from $750 |
| Felony drug charge (sale, delivery, manufacture, possession with intent) | from $1,500, rising with schedule, weight, and level |
These are attorney fees. Court costs and fines are separate. In some felony cases the State also pursues asset forfeiture, which is handled separately from the criminal charge.
What drives the cost of a drug case
- Misdemeanor or felony. Simple possession is a different case than sale, delivery, manufacture, or possession with intent.
- Schedule and weight. The controlled substance and the amount drive the charge level and the exposure.
- The search. Most drug cases turn on a stop, a search, or surveillance. Whether that search complied with the Fourth Amendment is often where the real work is — a suppression motion can decide the case.
- Diversion eligibility. Judicial and pretrial diversion and the Shelby County drug recovery court can keep a first offense off your record; pursuing that is sometimes a separate step.
- State or federal. A federal drug case in the Western District of Tennessee is a different level of work than a state charge.
Flat fee, not an hourly meter
We quote one flat fee for a defined scope of work, so you are not billed by the hour for every call. The free consultation gives you the number in writing before you commit. Se habla Español. If paying at once is a hardship, ask about an arrangement.
Why the cheapest quote isn’t the whole story
A drug case that looks simple can hinge entirely on whether the search was legal — and finding that requires a lawyer willing to put in the hours on the stop, the warrant, and the chain of custody. A fee well below the market can mean that work is not planned. See how we defend drug charges, our Shelby County drug court page, or what other charges cost.
Talk to a drug charge lawyer — free
Tell us what you are charged with and we will tell you the fee. Call the office at (901) 324-5000, or call or text the criminal line at 901-412-2973, for a free, confidential consultation.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a drug charge lawyer cost in Memphis?
At Brooks Law Firm, misdemeanor drug possession in Shelby County General Sessions starts at $750. A felony drug charge — sale, delivery, manufacture, or possession with intent — starts at $1,500 and rises with the schedule, weight, and level. These are attorney fees; court costs and fines are separate.
What makes a drug case cost more?
The charge level (felony sale or trafficking versus misdemeanor possession), the substance and weight, whether the case is federal, and how much work the search-and-seizure issues take. A contested suppression motion is often the most demanding part of a drug case.
Can a drug charge be diverted or expunged?
For an eligible first offense, judicial or pretrial diversion or the Shelby County drug recovery court can lead to a dismissal that is then eligible for expungement. Whether you qualify depends on the charge and your record, which we review at the consultation.
Is the fee flat or hourly?
Flat. Brooks Law Firm quotes one price for a defined scope, so you are not billed by the hour. You get the number in writing after a free consultation.