What to Expect When Hiring a Fort Worth Criminal Defense Attorney

Most people calling a criminal defense attorney have never done it before. They don’t know what the call will be like, what it costs, what they’re supposed to say, or what happens after they hang up.

This page covers the practical side of hiring a Fort Worth criminal defense attorney — the consultation, the questions worth asking, how fees work, and what actually changes once you have a lawyer. For an overview of charges we handle and how a criminal case moves through the Tarrant County courts, see our Fort Worth criminal defense attorney page.

What Happens When You Call

You reach someone, not a voicemail. Criminal cases don’t wait for business hours, and neither do we. If a family member was arrested at 2 a.m., that’s when the call matters most.

The first conversation is short and practical. What’s the charge, where did the arrest happen, is the person still in custody, and is there a court date. From there we can tell you what’s urgent and what can wait until morning.

If someone is still in jail, bond is usually the first priority, and our Fort Worth jail release attorneys can begin that process immediately, including overnight.

Nothing you say in that call obligates you to hire us.

What the Free Consultation Covers

A free consultation is not a sales meeting. It’s a case assessment.

Expect to walk through what happened, what the paperwork says, what charges are likely, and what the realistic range of outcomes looks like. A good consultation ends with you understanding your situation better than when it started — including if the honest answer is that your case is straightforward and your exposure is limited.

You should leave knowing three things: what you’re facing, what the next 30 days look like, and what representation would cost.

What to Have Ready

You don’t need to prepare much, but these help:

• Any paperwork from the arrest — the bond paperwork, citation, or charging documents
• The court date, if one has been set
• The arresting agency — Fort Worth PD, Arlington PD, Tarrant County Sheriff, or another department
• A written timeline of what happened, while it’s still fresh
• Any prior criminal history, including deferred adjudication or dismissed cases

That last one matters more than most people expect. Prior history changes charging decisions, bond conditions, and eligibility for diversion programs. It’s better discussed openly at the start than discovered later.

Questions Worth Asking Any Fort Worth Criminal Defense Attorney

Ask these of us and of anyone else you’re considering.

• Have you tried cases like mine to a jury in Tarrant County? Trial experience changes negotiating posture. Prosecutors know which attorneys try cases.
• Are you Board Certified in criminal law? Texas certifies specialists through the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. It requires substantial trial experience, peer and judicial review, and a full-day examination.
• Who will actually handle my case? Firms differ on whether the attorney you meet is the attorney who appears in court.
• What’s the fee, and what does it include? Ask specifically what happens if the case goes to trial.
• How and when will I hear from you?

You’re allowed to interview more than one attorney. You should.

How Criminal Defense Fees Work in Texas

Criminal defense is generally billed as a flat fee rather than hourly, which is different from how many civil matters work. The fee typically reflects the seriousness of the charge and the expected amount of work — a Class B misdemeanor and a first-degree felony are not comparable.

Ask what the fee covers. Common structures separate pretrial representation from trial, so a case that goes to a jury may involve an additional fee. That should be explained upfront and in writing, not discovered later.

One thing worth knowing: court-appointed counsel is not free. Judges can order attorney’s fees as a condition of bond or probation, and you don’t choose who is appointed.

What Changes Once You Hire an Attorney

Several things happen quickly.

Communication routes through your lawyer. Police and prosecutors contact your attorney, not you. That alone eliminates the most common way people damage their own cases.

Discovery begins. Your attorney requests the State’s file — reports, body camera and dash camera video, lab results, witness statements. Much of what determines a case outcome sits in that material.

Deadlines get tracked. Some are short and easy to miss. A DWI arrest, for example, starts a separate administrative clock on your driver’s license that runs independently of the criminal case.

Pre-indictment work starts on felonies. Before a Tarrant County grand jury reviews a felony case, there’s a window to present information that might not otherwise reach it. That window closes at indictment.

What Hiring an Attorney Does Not Do

Being straight about this matters more than sounding reassuring.

Hiring a lawyer does not make a case disappear overnight. Criminal cases in Tarrant County take time — misdemeanors often several months, felonies longer. Court settings get reset. Lab results take weeks.

No attorney can promise a specific outcome, and Texas Bar rules prohibit guaranteeing results. Anyone who does is telling you something about themselves, not about your case.

What representation does is make sure decisions get made with full information, deadlines get met, and nobody talks you into a plea before the evidence has been examined.

Why Clients Choose Cole Paschall Law

Shawn Paschall is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has tried more than 100 jury trials. Before defense work, he spent nine years as a felony prosecutor in Tom Green and Tarrant counties — three of them in the Crimes Against Children Unit. He has sat on the other side of the table, filed these charges, and knows how prosecutors evaluate a file.

Casey Cole brings 25 years of practice and is a member of the Tarrant County Criminal Defense Bar Association.

Together, the firm brings over 50 years of combined experience in Tarrant County courtrooms, and both attorneys carry a 10.0 Avvo rating.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the first consultation with a criminal defense attorney really free?

Yes. Cole Paschall Law offers free, no-obligation consultations. The purpose is to assess your case and explain your options. You are not committed to hiring anyone by having the conversation.

What should I bring to a criminal defense consultation?

Bring any arrest or bond paperwork, your court date if one is set, the name of the arresting agency, and a written timeline of events. Also be ready to discuss any prior criminal history, including dismissed cases and deferred adjudication.

How much does a criminal defense attorney cost in Fort Worth?

Criminal defense is usually charged as a flat fee based on the severity and complexity of the charge. Misdemeanors cost less than felonies. Ask specifically what the fee includes and whether trial is billed separately. Fees are discussed openly during the free consultation.

How soon should I hire a criminal defense lawyer after an arrest?

As soon as possible. Early representation protects you from making statements that hurt your case, preserves time-sensitive evidence, and opens options — including pre-indictment work on felonies and license deadlines in DWI cases — that close as a case advances.

Talk to Us Today

If you’re facing charges in Fort Worth or Tarrant County, the first conversation costs nothing and usually clarifies a lot.

We’re available 24/7. Call (817) 477-4100 or schedule a free consultation.