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What Does It Cost to Hire a Lawyer in Miami?

The honest answer is that it depends on the type of case. Criminal defense, civil litigation, and personal injury are priced completely differently, and the right structure for each is explained before any commitment is made.

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Straight Answer First

There Is No Single Price for "a Lawyer"

Anyone who quotes a flat number before hearing the facts of a case is guessing. Legal fees depend on the type of matter, its complexity, and how it resolves. What can be answered clearly is how each practice area is structured, and that structure is explained plainly before any commitment is made.

The one number that never changes: the first consultation is free and confidential, regardless of what kind of case it is.

Fee Structures by Practice Area

How Each Type of Case Is Priced

Each practice area uses a different fee model. Here is how each one works.

01

Criminal Defense

Flat Fee or Hourly

Most criminal cases, including DUI and traffic defense, are handled on a flat fee basis set after reviewing the charge, the evidence, and the likely path of the case. Complex or federal matters are sometimes billed hourly instead. The fee structure and amount are discussed and agreed upon during the initial consultation, before any representation begins.

02

Civil Litigation

Hourly

Contract disputes, business litigation, and other civil matters are billed hourly. The primary cost driver is discovery, not courtroom time. Cases resolved early, through demand letters or motion practice, typically cost a fraction of what a case that proceeds through full discovery requires.

03

Personal Injury

No Fee Unless You Win

No fee is charged unless money is recovered. The fee is a percentage of the recovery, agreed upon in writing before the case begins. Case costs such as filing fees and expert fees are typically advanced by the firm and reimbursed from the recovery, so out-of-pocket cost to the client during the case is minimal to none.

04

Domestic Violence

Flat Fee or Hourly

Injunction matters, for both petitioners and respondents, are typically handled on a flat fee basis for the initial hearing, with hourly billing if the matter becomes contested or extends beyond the first hearing. Criminal domestic violence charges follow the same fee structure as other criminal defense matters.

What Changes the Number

Factors That Affect Cost

Within each fee model, several factors determine where a specific case lands.

Factor
How It Affects Cost
Case Complexity
More charges, more parties, or more legal issues generally mean more work. A single misdemeanor and a multi-count felony are not priced the same way.
Trial vs. Resolution Short of Trial
Cases that resolve through negotiation, motion practice, or dismissal generally cost less than cases that proceed to trial, which require substantially more preparation time.
Discovery Volume
In civil and complex criminal matters, the amount of documents, depositions, and expert work required is often the single largest driver of total cost.
Timing of Engagement
Cases where counsel is engaged early, before key decisions are made or evidence is lost, are frequently less expensive to resolve than cases where counsel is brought in after the fact.
Court and Jurisdiction
Federal matters and cases in Miami-Dade's Complex Business Litigation Division follow different procedural tracks than standard county or circuit cases, which can affect scope and cost.
“
The question is never just what a case costs. It is what it costs to do it right, and what it costs later if it was not.
Andre A. Rouviere · Attorney
Before Any Cost Is Discussed

What Happens at the Free Consultation

Every engagement starts the same way, regardless of case type.

01

The Facts Are Reviewed

The charge, the incident, or the dispute is discussed in detail, directly with Andre, before any fee number is mentioned.

02

The Fee Structure Is Explained

Whichever model applies, flat fee, hourly, or contingency, is explained clearly, along with what it does and does not include.

03

Nothing Is Owed to Ask Questions

The consultation is free and confidential, with no obligation to retain. Deciding not to move forward costs nothing.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a criminal defense lawyer cost in Miami?+
It depends on the charge and its complexity. Most criminal cases are handled on a flat fee basis, set after reviewing the specific charge, the evidence, and the likely path of the case. A misdemeanor DUI and a multi-count federal indictment are not priced the same way. The exact fee is discussed during the free initial consultation.
Do personal injury lawyers charge upfront in Florida?+
No. Personal injury cases are handled on a contingency fee basis, meaning no fee is charged unless money is recovered. Case costs such as filing fees and expert fees are typically advanced by the firm and reimbursed from the eventual recovery, so there is generally little to no out-of-pocket cost during the case itself.
What is a contingency fee?+
A contingency fee is a fee structure where the attorney is paid a percentage of the money recovered in the case, rather than an hourly rate or flat amount. If nothing is recovered, no attorney's fee is owed. The exact percentage is agreed upon in writing before the case begins.
Is the first consultation really free?+
Yes, for every practice area. The initial consultation is free and confidential, with no obligation to retain. Fees are discussed and agreed upon only if the decision is made to move forward.
Can I pay a criminal defense fee in installments?+
Payment arrangements are discussed on a case-by-case basis during the consultation. Every situation is different, and the available options are explained clearly before any fee agreement is signed.
Why does a civil litigation case cost more than expected?+
Discovery is almost always the largest cost driver in civil litigation, not courtroom time. Document review, depositions, and expert work accumulate cost as a case proceeds. Cases that resolve early, through demand letters or motion practice, generally cost significantly less than cases that proceed through full discovery.
Does calling earlier in a case save money?+
Often, yes. Cases where counsel is engaged early, before key decisions are made, statements are given, or evidence is lost, frequently resolve more efficiently than cases where counsel is brought in after problems have already developed. This is true across criminal, civil, and personal injury matters.
How much does a DUI lawyer cost in Miami?+
DUI cases are typically handled on a flat fee basis, set after reviewing the specific facts: the BAC result, whether it is a first offense, and the strength of the state's evidence. A first-time DUI with no aggravating factors is priced differently than a repeat offense or a case involving an accident. The fee is discussed during the free consultation, before any commitment is made.
What percentage does a personal injury lawyer take in Florida?+
Contingency fee percentages are set out in a written agreement signed before the case begins, and can vary based on the type of case and the stage at which it resolves. Florida Bar rules govern how contingency fees may be structured. The exact percentage is explained clearly during the free consultation, along with how case costs are handled.
Do I have to pay if I lose a personal injury case?+
No attorney's fee is owed if no recovery is obtained, since personal injury cases are handled on a contingency basis. Case costs advanced by the firm, such as filing and expert fees, are generally the client's responsibility only if there is a recovery to reimburse them from, and this is addressed directly in the written fee agreement signed at the outset.
What is included in a criminal defense flat fee?+
A flat fee typically covers representation through a defined stage of the case, such as through resolution at the trial court level. What is and is not included, including whether trial itself is covered or billed separately, is spelled out clearly in the fee agreement before representation begins. There are no hidden add-ons introduced after the fact.
Practice Areas

Explore by Case Type

Each practice area page covers its specific legal framework in more depth.

Criminal Defense

Felony, misdemeanor, DUI, and federal criminal defense throughout Miami-Dade and Broward County.

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Civil Litigation

Contract disputes, business litigation, fraud claims, and real estate matters across South Florida.

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Personal Injury

Car accidents, premises liability, and serious injury representation on a contingency fee basis.

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Domestic Violence

Petitioner and respondent representation in Miami-Dade and Broward family court.

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Speak With Andre

Direct attorney access at (305) 774-7000

The clearest way to understand cost is a direct conversation about the specific case. Initial consultations are free and confidential, with no obligation to retain.

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