What does a criminal defense attorney cost in Salt Lake City?

We will sit down with you to discuss your payment options and look for an arrangement that is manageable for you. When we defend you, part of our role is helping to provide you with support and reduce your anxiety, down to the way we structure payments. Additionally, your initial consultation is cost-free.

When should you hire a criminal defense attorney?

If you were arrested and charged with a crime in Utah, you should contact Overson Law immediately. This is also true if you think that you are under investigation for a crime. The quicker you get in touch with us, the quicker we can begin advocating for your interests and fighting to ensure that the system does not treat you unfairly.

How can our Salt Lake City criminal defense lawyer help you?

Darwin will guide you, advise you, listen to you, and protect your Constitutional rights while working hard to achieve a favorable outcome to your case, such as an acquittal (“not guilty” verdict), a reduction in the penalties you are facing, your charges being dropped, or a dismissal of your case.

Should I Wait to Receive My Charges Before Hiring an Attorney in Utah?

Many individuals will know or suspect that they are going to be charged with a crime well before they receive a notice in the mail or the cops arrest them. Most individuals know that they have the right to be represented by a lawyer to defend themselves from any accusations. However, most people also don’t really think about hiring an attorney until they are either accused of a crime, arrested, or both. You are able to hire a lawyer at any point – even before you are formally charged with a crime – but should you?

It is generally a good idea to hire legal counsel as soon as you can if you suspect that you are going to be charged with a crime in the future. If you can, it is beneficial to retain legal counsel before you are charged with a crime or taken into custody. This will give the lawyer more time to prepare and work on your potential case.

To have our Salt Lake City, UT criminal defense lawyers examine your situation for free, call Overson Law at (801) 758-2287.

Do I Need to Be Accused of a Crime Before I Hire a Lawyer in Utah?

There is no rule that requires you to wait until you are formally charged with a crime to hire a lawyer. However, it can be difficult to know that you need our Clearfield, UT criminal defense lawyers in the first place if you were not arrested or otherwise notified that you are being charged with a crime. Hiring a lawyer early on in the process benefits you by giving the lawyer more time to work on your case and build an effective legal argument.

Why Do People Wait to Hire Lawyers in Utah Criminal Defense Matters

Sometimes, individuals will know that they may need a criminal defense lawyer in the near future but wait to hire one. There are a multitude of reasons why an individual may wait to hire an attorney when they need one.

First, a person may not know that there are potential criminal charges waiting in the wings. If an individual did commit an “obvious” crime, like robbing a store, they may know that potential criminal charges are in their future, but others are taken by surprise and do not think they were in need of a lawyer before they are arrested and charged.

Second, legal services are not always cheap. Potential defendants may hold off on hiring a lawyer, even if they expect to be charged with a crime, due to budgetary concerns.

Finally, many people may mistakenly believe that hiring a lawyer makes you “look guilty.” This is an incorrect, dangerous assumption that can actually hurt your case. On the contrary, hiring a lawyer early can make you look prepared and aware of your legal rights. You should not worry about hiring an attorney early on if your only concern is that it will “not look good.”

When is the Best Time to Hire a Lawyer in Utah?

It is better to hire an attorney sooner rather than later because it allows them to do more things to help advocate for you in court. Of course, the practical reality is that you should always have legal counsel when facing criminal charges. However, you need to consider the factors of your particular situation and determine when the best time to hire an attorney is for you and your case. Some services we can provide might help you determine when to hire us:

Alter Charges Against You

An extremely potent advantage of hiring a lawyer before you are formally charged is that they may be able to negotiate the charges that actually gets levied against you – or even do away with charges entirely in some cases. A lawyer can talk to the prosecutor before they enter charges and explain to them why a less serious set of charges, or none at all, makes sense in your case, especially if you are willing to pay restitution, participate in rehabilitative services, or otherwise pay civil fines and penalties instead of having the charges escalated to criminal charges.

Protection From Unfair Police Practices

We can help protect you from tactics police use to try and get an unfair admission of guilt and a conviction. Our lawyers can put a stop to any decisions or manipulative tactics police use against you and can ensure that you are treated fairly under the law.

Help Throughout the Case

If you hire a lawyer before you are charged but still end up facing criminal charges, you will be in a better position than if you waited until that point to look for a lawyer. Our lawyers will already be familiar with your case and situation at the point that you are charged and will be “ahead of the game” in building a strong legal case to defend you from prosecutors. Attorneys can talk to police, prosecutors, and other parties at times when you would otherwise have to do that interaction yourself.

Is it Bad if I Wait Until I Am Charged with a Crime to Hire a Lawyer in Utah?

All that being said, it is not necessarily a bad thing if you do not elect to hire a defense attorney until after you are charged with a crime. Indeed, that is the most common situation that defendants find themselves in. Not hiring a lawyer until you get charged is in no way whatsoever predictive of the outcome of your trial. That will be tied to the strength of the case our attorneys can build on your behalf.

Contact Our Utah Criminal Defense Attorneys and Start Discussing Your Potential Case Today

The Lehi, UT criminal defense lawyers with Overson Law can be reached 24/7 at (801) 758-2287 and provide free discussions about your concerns in a confidential manner.

“If someone is making allegations against you, you really should talk to Darwin.”

I was charged with domestic violence and the allegations were that I abused my husband. Truth is, my husband was abusive to me. I hired Darwin and we had a trial. During the trial, Darwin was able to show the jury that it was my husband that was abusive and was trying to manipulate the process of our divorce. The jury found me not guilty and after the trial one of the jurors approached me and told me how impressed the jury was with the way Darwin presented the defense. Before the trial, my now soon to be ex-husband tried to convince me to plead guilty. So going to trial was really the first time I was able to stand up to him and not let him manipulate my life anymore. Darwin really helped me with that process and I can’t express how empowering it has been. If someone is making allegations against you, you really should talk to Darwin.

T.W.
Google Reviews - September 2022

“If you or a loved one is in trouble, Darwin is your guy.”

“I was arrested for DUI. From the very beginning Darwin was very professional and supportive. Throughout the court process I was scared. I kept telling Darwin that wanted to plead guilty just to end it but Darwin encouraged me to stick with it and take the case to trial. The morning of trial, Darwin was able to cross examine the (arresting) officer in such a way as to show the jury that there was reasonable doubt as to the accuracy of the breathalyzer machine. That was important because they were saying my BAC was .182. Darwin walked me through my testimony so that the jury understood what happened from my point of view. I think if he hadn’t been able to help me through my testimony the way he did that the jury wouldn’t have understood and they would have convicted me. The jury deliberated for two hours and then returned a verdict of not guilty.I am really thankful that Darwin was my attorney and that I took his advice to take my case to a jury. If you or a loved one is in trouble, Darwin is your guy.”

T.C.
Google Reviews - September 2022

“The jury found my husband not guilty and I credit Darwin for making that happen.”

“My husband was charged with a first degree felony sex crime against our granddaughter. Anyone who knew my husband knew he didn’t do it. He was the type to protect children not hurt them. We had been represented by another attorney who just couldn’t get the prosecutor to see that the charges weren’t good. When it came time for trial, that attorney was scared to try the case. We were referred to Darwin and I am so grateful. Trial was a week long and by the end, Darwin had shown the jury how our grandchild had been manipulated by the social workers and her mother to say things that were not true. Darwin was careful and thorough in his investigation and preparation before trial and it really showed in court. The jury found my husband not guilty and I credit Darwin for making that happen.”

S. R.
Google Reviews - September 2022

“I thank Darwin …had it not been for him, things would have turned out very differently for me and not in a good way.”

“Several years ago, I was having troubles in my marriage. There were lots of arguments and it was clear that we were headed for a separation. One night I was woke up by six West Valley Police officers standing around my bed with flashlights shining in my eyes. It was 3:00 in the morning and they drug me to the police station where they informed me that I was being arrested for engaging in sexual relations with my baby girl. I could not believe it. Over the next several days I lost my job because of these allegations and a protective order issued against me preventing me from seeing my wife and child, and even from going to the house to get my things. My world was turned upside down. I hired Darwin to represent me. He helped me get my job back, over turned the protective order and through his own investigation was able to uncover enough about my wife to convince the prosecutor to drop all charges against me. About six months later my wife was arrested for possessing thousands of dollars of fake checks. I have moved on and remarried. I thank Darwin for helping me through an incredibly difficult part of my life and I think had it not been for him, things would have turned out very differently for me and not in a good way.”

B.N.
Google Reviews - September 2022