TexasCHLforum.com

cost of a lawyer We had a seminar at the range in the summer of 2005. A criminal defense attorney spoke. We asked him "How Much?" about a dozen different ways.

The closest thing to an answer was:
"The price of a car."

Next question:
"What kind of car?"

The better the shoot...
the more witnesses with your side of the story...
the worse the bad guy...
the less your freedom is worth...
the less the rest of your life is worth...
the worse you are injured...
the fewer feet you stick in your mouth with the detectives and the press...
the more the county prosecutor likes you...
The cheaper the car.



See you at the range
Tom Neal

Posted Sep 16, 2006 @ 7:07:36 am CDT
Gun club membership Here is an alternative solution:

Our gun club (http://www.Psc-range.com) in the Houston area, changed insurance providers this year.

The new company offered us a similar coverage to get us to change.

All of our members are covered by $50,000 worth of legal insurance. There are limitations and exclusions that I won't get into here but, if you are a member of a gun club, you may be covered under their policy. Even for things that happen "Off the range".

If you are a member of my gun club, you are covered automaticaly.

See you at the range
Tom Neal
PSC Membership Director

Posted Aug 23, 2005 @ 1:24:54 pm CDT
Maybe I am just lucky but... Maybe I am just lucky but...

I shoot with at least 6 lawyers AND
this summer, I attended a Texas CHL related legal seminar with a 7th.

None of the 6 I shoot with, specialize in Criminal Defense.

None of the lawyers I know will come bail me out of jail at 2AM. A lawyer that works the 2AM time frame would either be too expensive for me OR not good enough.

Plan A
Don't get involved in questionable shooting.

Plan B
If the shooting I am involved in is questioned, and I am arrested then my wife or my children will work with the bail bonds man to get me out of jail.

Once I am out of jail, I'll get a reference from one of the lawyers I shoot with, or the bail bonds man, or one of my CHL instructors, or one of my shooting buddies.

I expect my legal fees to be the price of a car. The less questionable the shoot, the cheaper the car.

Your mileage may vary.


See you at the range
Tom Neal

Lawyer A few thoughts.

You don't need a lawyer now. You may need a bail bondsman. If you are involved in a shooting, you won't need a lawyer until the sun comes back up. If you have enough time to surf packing.org, you don't have enough money to pay a GREAT lawyer to come pick you up from jail at 2:00 AM.


A way of dealing with any concern is to figure what to do in a worst case scenario. The first step is to define your worst case scenario.

SO...
Here is my worst case scenario
1) I will be arrested on a felony charge and will spend the night (or the weekend) in jail.
2) All of my firearms will be confiscated.
3) Bail will be set at least $20,000 and it will cost me $2,000 to the bail bondsman to get out of jail.
4) A lawyer will cost me the price of a car.
5) I will not be able to possess firearms until the case is resolved.
6) I could loose the case, go to prison, and never be able to own firearms again.
7) I will have to move to another neighborhood.
8) I will loose my job.
9) My wife will divorce me.
10) My children will stop speaking to me.
11) My friends will avoid me.


Remember this is my worst case.

So, if I shoot, it's got to be worth all this.
My life, my wife, my kids, and my family are all worth it.

The least concern I have today is finding a lawyer. There are plenty of criminal defense attorneys. I will be able to find one if I need one.

I would not buy Lawyer Insurance. The lawyer you get, may not be the lawyer you need.

I would not hire a lawyer now. (see above.)


See you at the range
Tom Neal