The cost of criminal lawyers depends on the severity of the criminal charge. If the case against you is flimsy and easily taken apart, your attorney may only end up charging you for a few hours and you may walk away scot-free. Cases like this normally start around $1,200, with everything included, and end up with a few hours of community service and maybe some driving classes. On the other end of the spectrum, however, your case could be lengthy and difficult and could cost you close to ten thousand dollars, or even more.
No matter what, hiring a criminal defense attorney is worth the extra money, especially since a good defense plan will see you walking out of DUI court with no fines or fees to pay to the court, saving you money on the back end. The average cost of a DUI in Illinois sits at approximately $8,500, between lawyer fees and court fees to be paid.
This includes, normally, all of your filing fees for the court, as well as fees and payment towards getting your license un-restricted. Fees associated with your license can be numerous, from having to pay for the install and upkeep on a BAIID, to paying filing fees, etc.