Joe Hurley, Attorney-At-Law - Delaware's Leading Criminal Defense Lawyer Answers Your Questions

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Frequently Asked Questions About Joe's Services, Fees and Experience

Right now may be a seriously stressful time for you. Let's try and answer some questions in the absense of being able to talk to us immediately:

Question: ...How much do you charge?
Answer: ... The particular fee is dependent upon a number of factors, and there is no short answer to the question. The factors include: the seriousness of the crime (in particular, the seriousness of the potential penalties), the amount of work that will be invested in the case and, most importantly, the ultimate resolution that is obtained.

Question: ...When will I know how much the fee is?
Answer: ... Preliminarily, I require a modest retainer to get me involved in the case. This fee allows me to get to the point where I am going to be able to project the ultimate resolution of the case as well as the ultimate fee. Typically, but subject to exception, that process takes about four to eight weeks.

Question: ...Can I pay counsel fees with a payment plan?
Answer: ... The fee requirement is measured in terms of an initial retainer that must be received within l5 days of the start of representation. Along with the retainer fee comes the understanding that the remaining portion of the fee, whatever the amount, must be received before the case is finally resolved. While payments may be made periodically throughout the representation, I do not contemplate a situation where the remaining portion of the fee will be received after the case is resolved.

Question: ...How experienced are you?
Answer: ... I am the most experienced criminal trial attorney in the state of Delaware bar none! I was a prosecutor for four years and was engaged in hundreds of jury trials, ranging from the most simple criminal cases to the most complex during the course of those four years. During the past 30 years, my practice has been almost exclusively criminal defense, and I am in court every day of the work week. I go to trial on a regular basis because a defense attorney must send the message that he is prepared to go to trial if a reasonable plea offer is not extended. Although I have never specifically counted, it is safe to say that I have participated in between l,000 and 2,000 jury trials over the course of 35 years.

Question: ...What is your winning percentage?
Answer: ... In order to answer that question, one has to be able to define a win. For example, if someone was charged with murder in the first degree and is facing a sentence of life imprisonment, but was acquitted of that charge, and instead found guilty of manslaughter (facing l0 years in prison), that is a win given the context. In other words a win is not necessarily measured only in terms of a not guilty verdict. Using that formulation, I can't give a precise percentage, but I can say that I win the vast majority of cases that I take to trial.