Attorney Fees & Consultations • Hoffer Defense
Every case is different. Before any fee can be discussed, Joe needs to understand what you are facing. Here is a plain-language explanation of how criminal defense fees work — so you know what to expect before you call.
Contact Joe to Discuss Fees ✆ (423) 463-0360The Honest Answer
Any attorney who posts a fixed fee without knowing the facts of your case is telling you something that probably isn't true. Criminal defense fees depend on the charge, the court, the stage of the case, the complexity of the facts, and what it will actually take to defend you properly.
What Joe can offer is transparency: an honest conversation about what your case involves, what the likely scope of representation will be, and what a fair fee looks like given that scope. That conversation starts the moment you reach out — and it costs nothing to have it.
Below is a plain explanation of the fee structures Joe uses and the factors that affect what a case will cost. If you have financial concerns, say so. There are options that exist specifically for people who cannot afford private counsel, and Joe will make sure you understand what is available.
How Fees Work
For many criminal matters, Joe charges a single flat fee agreed upon at the outset of representation. You know the cost up front. There are no invoices accumulating in the background and no uncertainty about what the final number will be.
The flat fee covers the defined scope of representation — typically through a specific stage of the case such as a preliminary hearing, a plea, or through trial. If the scope changes materially, that is addressed directly and honestly.
For complex matters where the scope of work cannot be reliably predicted, an hourly arrangement may be more appropriate. This is common in federal cases, multi-defendant matters, cases with extensive discovery, or matters likely to proceed to a contested hearing or trial of uncertain length.
Hourly billing includes a retainer deposited in advance, against which fees are drawn as work is performed. Joe provides clear accounting of time spent and what it was spent on.
If you are charged with a federal crime in the Eastern District of Tennessee and cannot afford private counsel, you have a constitutional right to appointed representation. Joe Hoffer is a member of the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Panel for the Eastern District of Tennessee — the roster of qualified private attorneys approved by the federal court to represent indigent defendants.
CJA appointment means Joe is appointed by the federal court and his fees are paid by the federal government. This is not public defender representation — it is experienced private counsel appointed by the court. If you believe you may qualify, tell Joe when you call. He will explain how the process works and what it means for your case.
What Affects Cost
The fee in any criminal matter reflects the actual work your defense requires. Here are the primary factors Joe considers when discussing fees:
What to Expect
Joe will not quote you a number before understanding your case. He will not take a fee he cannot justify. And he will not tell you what you want to hear about the strength of your case in order to get retained — that serves no one.
What he will do: listen to the facts, give you his honest assessment of what you are facing, explain what the representation will involve, and give you a clear specific number with an explanation of what it covers. If there are options you qualify for — including CJA appointment — he will make sure you know about them.
The initial conversation is free. Reach out by phone, by email, or through the contact form. Joe reviews every inquiry personally.
The fee conversation starts with understanding what you are facing. Reach out now — call, email, or submit your information. Everything is confidential. There is no obligation.