Is there a fee for consultation?

No, we are happy to meet with you and review your situation initially for no charge. All discussions are confidential.

Do you have set fees for certain cases?

No. Every case is different and the facts and circumstances underlying every criminal charge can vary greatly. We set fees on a case-by-case basis after reviewing all information available to us.

When are you available to discuss my case?

Savage Law Firm understands that crises can occur at any hour. We are available to respond to calls at any time, 24 hours a day. We will also adjust our schedules to accommodate meeting requests after business hours and on the weekends if necessary. Our goal is to serve you immediately and efficiently.

Can you guarantee an outcome to my case?

No lawyer can guarantee an outcome to a criminal case. Savage Law Firm can, however, guarantee that we will work diligently for you to secure the best possible result. We also guarantee to be available to answer your questions and to share all important developments and information pertaining to your case in a timely manner. Your health, livelihood, freedom and safety are our top priority.

Are there certain kinds of criminal cases you do not take?

We practice criminal law at every level of court in South Carolina: local, state and federal. This includes traffic offenses, magistrate and municipal offenses, misdemeanors and felonies at the state and federal level. We represent both juveniles and adults charged with crimes. We also can assist you in collateral administrative matters, such as forfeiture suits, school disciplinary proceedings and license revocation proceedings resulting from a criminal offense.

I have a prior criminal record and a new criminal charge. Does this mean I am going to jail?

Not necessarily. Your criminal records can be a factor evaluated into whether a judge will sentence you to jail time, but it depends on what charges are on your record and what you are currently charged with.

If I hire you, what do I get for my money?

Savage Law Firm not only represent you to the fullest, we can retain a defense team consisting of experienced investigators, forensic experts (including crime scene experts, handwriting experts, fingerprint experts, firearms analysts, computer and IT experts, forensic accountants, and lab technicians to name a few), physicians and mental health and substance abuse experts.

Experts are retained for you based on the facts and nature of your case, and we will always review with you what experts are needed, what purpose they serve, what the results of any evaluation may be and how those results may affect your case.

Who makes the decisions regarding the resolution of my case-you or me?

All decisions are made with your knowledge and input. Savage Law Firm will advise you regarding a number of legal decisions, such as what investigation is required, what documents need to be obtained or what witnesses need to be interviewed.

The ultimate resolution of a case, like whether or not to accept a plea offer or proceed to trial, will be yours. We will advise you of our opinion as to the best course of action, leave the decision to you, and proceed accordingly.

Do you take credit cards?

Yes, we do accept credit cards.  We also accept cash, cashier’s checks, and money orders.

What happens after I get arrested?

After you are arrested, you will be transported to a local jail. Which jail you go to depends on the jurisdiction in which you are arrested. After you are booked into the jail, you will have a bond hearing before a local magistrate judge. The amount of bond that is set depends upon whether you are considered a flight risk or a risk to the community.

Very often, your appearance at an initial bond hearing is by video, so you may not actually be in the courtroom with the magistrate. In most cases, the magistrate judge will set a bond for you. There are some serious felony charges in South Carolina in which a magistrate cannot set a bond. For those types of charges, your bond will be set upon request at a later date by a Circuit Court judge.

We are available to appear at any bond hearing to assist you in obtaining the most reasonable bond possible.

What types of bonds exist?

There are several types of bonds. In some cases, you could receive a personal recognizance bond, which many judges term a “get out of jail free card”. With this type of bond, you are not required to post money prior to your release from jail. In other cases, you may be required to post a surety bond, which requires that you post ten percent (10 %) of the bond amount with a bail bondsman. In some cases, you may be able to post ten percent (10 %) of the bond amount with the Clerk of Court, or may be permitted to post property with a bail bondsman or with the Court to secure your bond.