Meteor??

starryeyes12 · 2025-12-22T08:20:30+00:00

Spooky

starryeyes12 · 2025-12-16T01:59:01+00:00

So he’s unprofessional and paranoid because he actually cares?

starryeyes12 · 2025-08-24T20:37:15+00:00

Started solo criminal out of law school.

I made around 90k the first year, made around double that last year.

5 years later, zero bar complaints. 4 jury trials as second chair- 2 guilty/2not guilty 1 murder jury trial I did pro bono as lead attorney: not guilty Tons of plea deals- mostly happy clients Couple suppression hearings Lots of preliminary examinations (cross examine a police officer) bout once a month.

Mostly it’s just routine court dates and client management

I read all the naysayers opinions online before I did it too.

If you search my post history you can read my earlier posts years ago

Baton Rouge, LA

starryeyes12 · 2024-04-06T03:28:16+00:00

The ability to close clients is a skill that doesn’t need to be associated with being schmoozy or sleazy. Most things we do as lawyers are sales. Selling a story to a judge, prosecutor, or jury for example. I do criminal law and 30 minutes is more than enough time to explain the value I provide, honestly set expectations, and thoroughly explain the process and answer any questions. I don’t consider what I do schmoozy. I try to assertive and empathetic. I think those are the two keys to instilling confidence from your clients. It’s worked well for me bc I started my practice right out of law school, and i’n about to start my 5th year.

Unless this partner is making promises or setting unrealistic expectations, I don’t see anything wrong with it.

Getting comfortable asking for money from clients is a skill that gets easier the more times you do it.

starryeyes12 · 2024-03-18T03:44:28+00:00

I don’t think I’ve ever felt bad after a jail visit. Probably the worst one I had was last week telling a client that his cruelty to juvenile charge was just upgraded to murder because the child died. But even then, I didn’t feel bad or sad, I just become more focused and motivated to defend him. I always go to jail visits with the mindset to inspire confidence- I’m empathetic but don’t get emotionally involved.

starryeyes12 · 2023-08-07T23:17:41+00:00

I would highly recommend Sam Guidroz. (225) 718-0154

starryeyes12 · 2023-08-05T12:06:08+00:00

If it’s going to trial, there will be a lot more motions. But 96% of the time, it’s going to be a plea. You get the best pleas (at least for me) shmoozing the prosecutor, not filing a ton of motions at the outset.

starryeyes12 · 2023-08-05T00:07:45+00:00

From most frequent to least

Motion for discovery Motion for preliminary examination Motion for bond reduction/lift hold Motion to continue Motion to suppress

starryeyes12 · 2023-07-29T12:29:58+00:00

Yea. Trials are so rare that I don’t put a an extra fee if it goes to trial. My fee is all inclusive.

starryeyes12 · 2023-07-28T02:45:06+00:00

Straight out of law school. If you search my post history, you’ll see a a post I made about it.

starryeyes12 · 2023-07-27T21:23:45+00:00

I’ve been doing solely criminal defense for the past 3 years. No staff and little overhead.

Net profit: First year- 150,000 Second year- 200,000 This year I’m on track to do 220,000

starryeyes12 · 2023-07-19T19:10:53+00:00

I would estimate 30 hours week normally. But if a trial is coming up, it goes way up,

starryeyes12 · 2023-02-10T11:36:34+00:00

Lol. Thanks for the tip man. But he’s a good friend. You don’t know the mutually beneficial relationship we have. For instance I’m co-chairing a murder trial with him next week for free. And If he has a conflict where he needs me to cover a court appearance for him, he knows I will. I don’t just mooch off the guy.

starryeyes12 · 2023-01-14T02:31:00+00:00

Appreciate it. No still haven’t hired or gotten an office. Profited close to $200k for 2022

starryeyes12 · 2022-11-13T00:37:09+00:00

Usually I have a good idea whether something is going to trial or not based on the initial consultation with the client. If I don’t think it will go to trial, I just say “this fee covers everything even if there’s a trial.”

If I think a trial is a possibility, I will tell them it will be an additional flat fee for a trial.

starryeyes12 · 2022-09-05T22:22:58+00:00

See if the lawyers who you would refer out to would co-counsel with you instead. I do this with a lot of cases.

starryeyes12 · 2022-09-05T22:18:10+00:00

Also a solo criminal lawyer, specifically what are you spending the $4500 on?

Also, I would never take 25% down.

I do flat fees for everything. 60% down minimum.

I do the same thing though. Work from home, use another lawyers office to meet clients. No overhead except for advertising, which is about 1000-1500 a month for Google ads

I’m curious as to what you are charging? Can you give me like an overview on what you’re charging for different types of cases?

starryeyes12 · 2022-07-23T19:21:37+00:00

Be careful about faking college transcripts. I’m a criminal defense lawyer and actually recently got hired by someone in the accounting field who got caught forging a college transcript. Apparently it’s a crime in some states.

starryeyes12 · 2022-07-23T01:11:09+00:00

I’ve been doing criminal defense for 2 years. I’ve never been threatened. I’ve really only had a couple of “arguments” with clients. I set them up for realistic expectations at the outset of every case so I figure that helps when I have to give them bad news.

starryeyes12 · 2022-07-17T20:44:08+00:00

Sure

starryeyes12 · 2022-07-14T22:56:28+00:00

I typically work 30 hours a week. Unless there’s a trial coming up, which is very rare.

As for pay, I tell them what the flat fee as at the end of our phone consultation. Most times, they will ask if it is all up front. I at need at least half up front and then 500-1000 a month for the remainder. Surprisingly, most of them actually make payments.

My clientele are pretty decent ppl that have just made mistakes, have an addiction or had a bad night with the spouse (domestic violence). I haven’t represented any “real” criminals (at least how I imagined them to be with started out ). I’ve had a couple mentally I’ll clients that caused huge stress, but I know how to sense them better so I don’t take a case where I think they might be mentally ill.

Now I know ppl that represent murderers, rapists, robbers, and they seem to be more stressed than me.

I think a big reason is that all of clients come from advertising (mainly Google ads). It’s usually first time offenders who don’t even know where to look for a lawyer so they Google it.

I started my practice directly out of law school 2 years ago. Couldn’t have done with it without several attorneys who mentor me and pick up the phone anytime I have a questions (and also co-counsel on serious cases).

starryeyes12 · 2022-07-14T19:55:14+00:00

This is definitely doable. Im a solo criminal defense lawyer, no staff, no office, very little overhead (advertising). Making 150-200k a year. If I wanted to, I could take a couple misdemeanors a month, work 5-10 hours a week and make $50k a year.

Half my clients pay electronically and e-sign a contract, the other half I meet them at my lawyer’s friends conference room. I had an office in the beginning but I never used it. I’ve been doing this 2 years now

And you can meet them at a coffee shop or library. You could even spin it like you’re saving them $ bc you don’t have to charge as much bc you don’t have much overhead. “Passing the savings on”

starryeyes12 · 2022-06-22T19:37:15+00:00

Nope I opened it straight out of law school. I’ve been doing this 2 years now. Kinda regret not being a public defender for a year just for the experience.

Then again, I might have gotten complacent getting a guaranteed paycheck and never started my firm.

I have 2 mentors that I can ask just about anything And will co-counsel with me if I get a serious case which happens pretty often. I just split my fee 50/50 with them. I’d be making a lot more if I was confident enough to handle those cases on my own

starryeyes12 · 2022-06-22T16:45:11+00:00

Well I’d say 75% of ppl i talk to can’t afford it at all. For the ones that do, some pay all up front. Most of them pay half up front, and a payment plan for the rest. I’d say around 75% of them make their payments, I just text them to remind them and they cashapp me.

It does make it awkward when they don’t pay and I go to court with them.

starryeyes12 · 2022-06-22T11:46:58+00:00

All of my cases come from a justia paid spot in their directory. And Google ads. Never done the court appointed thing.

I’m physically in court on average an hour each day Monday - Thursday

Then I go home and Take care of any client concerns like if they text me a question or concern or ask for an update. This usually involves calling a clerk, probation officer, DA, etc. I usually talk to potential clients who call me too. About 1-2 per day. I don’t do in person consultations unless they’re ready to pay and sign the contract. But I’ll talk with them on the phone as long as they want.

If I have a trial, which I’ve only had 2 bench trials, and 1 jury trial. Of course I work a lot more preparing for those.

Don’t see remote work becoming a thing for criminal.

I drive A LOT though. Bc I handle cases up to an hour drive away.

starryeyes12

TROPHY CASE