Almost no law office in Romania answers the question “how much does it cost” openly. I prefer to answer it. Someone facing a criminal case already has enough unknowns without me adding another one.
Initial consultation: 500 RON. A fixed price, told to you before you come to the office. I am not registered for V.A.T., so this is the final amount. Bookings on +40 742 833 784.
The initial consultation
It usually runs 45 to 60 minutes and is a substantive discussion, not an opening formality. By the end you should know three things: what the accusation actually is, what stages the case will go through, and what can realistically be done in your situation.
The consultation commits you to nothing further. If you decide afterwards not to instruct me, or if I conclude that I am not the right person for your problem, we stop there. I will tell you plainly if your situation does not need a lawyer, or needs a different kind of lawyer than me.
How the representation fee is set
There is no single tariff, because there is no typical case. The fee is agreed at the first meeting, once I know the details, and it is put in writing in the legal assistance contract. The criteria are those laid down in the Statute of the Legal Profession. In practice, the following weigh most:
- The stage the case has reached. A case taken on at the start of the criminal investigation, before any statement is given, involves a different volume of work than one taken on after the indictment has been drawn up — usually less.
- The complexity of the accusation. The number of charges, the number of defendants, whether there is a civil claim attached.
- The size of the file. A drink-driving case runs to a few dozen pages. A tax evasion or drug trafficking case can run to thousands, plus dozens of hours of recordings.
- The technical evidence required. Accounting, forensic or medical expert reports and counter-reports — each one adds work in analysis and in challenging it.
- Travel. If the case is heard in Bistrița, Baia Mare, Zalău or Alba Iulia, travel time counts.
- Urgency. Police custody or an application for pre-trial arrest means work measured in hours, often outside office hours.
What I do not do
I do not make the fee conditional on the outcome. The Statute of the Legal Profession prohibits the quota litis pact, and in criminal matters the idea is unsuitable in any case: the outcome is decided by the prosecutor and the judge, not by the lawyer. What I can commit to is the work, not the result.
I do not quote figures over the phone before I know what the case involves. A fee given without seeing the file would be either too high, too low, or simply invented. That is why the initial consultation has a fixed and modest price: so you can find out where you stand without committing to anything.
What the fee covers
The representation fee covers assistance and representation for the stage it was agreed for: studying the file, attending investigative acts and hearings, drafting applications and written submissions, and staying in contact with you throughout.
Set separately, and told to you in advance: court stamp duties where they apply, expert and interpreter fees, and travel costs where relevant. Nothing appears by surprise along the way — if the case develops in a way that substantially changes the volume of work, we discuss it beforehand, not afterwards.
Frequently asked questions
Can the fee be paid in instalments?
Yes, in many situations. The schedule is set out in the legal assistance contract. Tell me at the outset if this matters for you — it is a normal conversation, not an awkward one.
How does this differ from a court-appointed lawyer?
A court-appointed lawyer is assigned by the Bar, paid by the state at rates well below the market, and usually receives the file shortly before the hearing. A lawyer you choose can be contacted before your first statement and has the time needed to study the file and build a strategy. The difference is not one of individual competence, but of the time and resources each can devote.
I do not speak Romanian. Is that a problem?
No. I work in English with foreign clients facing criminal proceedings in Romania. Where the law requires it, an authorised interpreter is appointed for procedural steps; that cost is separate and is explained to you in advance.
Can the fee be recovered if I am acquitted?
Judicial expenses, including lawyer fees, may be claimed from the party that caused them, under the conditions of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Recovery is neither automatic nor full in every case. We discuss it concretely, against your situation.
What if the case lasts longer than estimated?
The fee is agreed by procedural stage — criminal investigation, preliminary chamber, first instance, appeal. A stage running long does not automatically attract an additional fee. Moving to a new stage is discussed separately, in advance.
Book a consultation
Call +40 742 833 784 or write to contact@chertes.legal. Tell me briefly what it is about and how urgent it is.