Community Chat

[occasionalrain]

@Sage04 

I'm inclined to agree.

My neighborhood is safe but that could change and if someone broke into our house, we would shoot them and then call police. In that event, we'd likely need legal representation.

Sometimes we go into the nearby city and could encounter a mugger or car jacker, those would be shot as well, so retaining a criminal attorney would be the way to go.

[Oznell]

@occasionalrain ,  your interesting post got me speculating.  We don't have one on retainer, I doubt we could ever afford it.  But I'd sort of love to be the kind of person who DID have one on retainer, to be consulted at the drop of a hat, on any number of things.  How glam!  As well as practical.   

Some of Perry Mason's clients had him on retainer in some of the episodes, and they had their fingers in all sorts of pies...

Even more, I'd love to have a doctor "on retainer" --  one who would come to your house, be obsessed with keeping his/her patients as healthy and alive as long as possible, who knew their histories inside out, etc. etc.

Sort of a 'concierge' service,  way out of my realm, but fun to imagine. 

[Tinkrbl44]

---

@Shelbelle wrote:

Sorry, but I would never pay to keep a lawyer on retainer just in case I was arrested, yikes !!

---

@Shelbelle 

ITA ... hey, here's a thought .... just don't break the law, and save the attorney fees!  lol

[occasionalrain]

@Oznell 

I like to think of AAA as being on retainer. 

[Tinkrbl44]

---

@CalminHeart wrote:

I can't imagine having an attorney on retainer. If you need an attorney, get one. If not, why pay for something you don't need?

One might need an attorney on retainer if I was a mobster, accused of serious crimes, accused of multiple crimes, etc.

---

@CalminHeart 

Or if one of your children was a drug addict .... or engaged regularly in other illegal activities.

[occasionalrain]

Many innocent people are arrested, some convicted. Being innocent is no guarantee you won't be needing an attorney and the best one money can buy.

[Tinkrbl44]

---

@occasionalrain wrote:

Many innocent people are arrested, some convicted. Being innocent is no guarantee you won't be needing an attorney and the best one money can buy.

---

@occasionalrain 

True, but having an attorney on retainer seems like overkill unless your business dealings (or other dealings) might make you vulnerable on a regular basis.

If you have an attorney you've dealt with in the past, that's the best place to start if the need for one comes up.  

If you are seriously concerned you might be arrested at any moment and need to have someone handy, you can always do a little research for local criminal law attorneys in your area and have their names & phone numbers in your wallet AND phone.  

[Etoile308]

I'm not sure how many law firms have the old retainer system in place. I think now a days retainers are more a set amount placed into an escrow account used against the amount needed to cover some of the cost of why you are hiring an attorney to resolve an issue.

If arrested you don't need an attorney to bail you out. Contact family or a bail bondsman. Then select an attorney who would specialize in your specific charge.

[occasionalrain]

@Etoile308 

Before bail is granted or the amount set, you go before a judge or magistrate. While you can appear without council, it's better to have one. 

[Tinkrbl44]

---

@Etoile308 wrote:

I'm not sure how many law firms have the old retainer system in place. I think now a days retainers are more a set amount placed into an escrow account used against the amount needed to cover some of the cost of why you are hiring an attorney to resolve an issue.

If arrested you don't need an attorney to bail you out. Contact family or a bail bondsman. Then select an attorney who would specialize in your specific charge.

---

@Etoile308  @occasionalrain 

@Etoile308 makes a good point .... you can get yourself bailed out and then, when back home, decide who you want to represent you for your upcoming hearing. 

An attorney isn't needed for bail unless it's a MAJOR criminal offense, like shooting several people or something very serious.