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I know that no one can give legal advice or know all the specifics of my situation but I was hoping for some general advice and appreciate any help.

I was arrested for public intoxication. First ever run-in with the law, got out of hand one night and passed out in between the cab and front door of my apartment building. Cop picked me up, took me to drunk tank, and spent the night and next morning in jail.

Have the option to pay $100 fine/plead guilty or I can choose to appear in court. If I choose to go to court, one lawyer quoted $3000 for retainer, he appears to have success getting people off for this crime.

im in biglaw, with about 40k in loans left to pay off. The money for the lawyer would basically come from the excess loan payments I make above the minimum (on a 5 year plan). I am thinking that I will always regret not paying the lawyer and fighting it, because it will always appear as guilty on my record (misdemeanor) and cannot be expunged in my state.

Does anyone have a similar experience or know of anything similar to this? I am so embarrassed and ashamed about the entire ordeal that I do not have many people to discuss it with. Thank you in advance for any advice.

$3k seems REALLY steep for this. Go talk to some other lawyers and see if you can get one to handle it for less

OP - I agree it seems so crazy steep, and there's obviously no guarantee of any outcome so I could be paying so much more for the same result.

I'm also worried because I want to apply the government and I'm afraid that this will prevent me from getting a government job (at a federal agency like the SEC, Fed, or FDIC).

When you say you have the option to pay $100 fine/plead guilty or appear in court, it sounds like this a ticket you can pay by mail or something?

In pretty much every jurisdiction, there are zero consequences to appearing in court without a (criminal) lawyer for the first appearance. The prosecutor (or if this is the kind of infraction that's just handled by the judge ... which it might be if it's that low of a ticket), will often make a plea offer at the first appearance. It may be lower than plead guilty and pay the fine stated on the ticket. There may be some sort of diversion or deferral available, a plea to a lesser offense, or something. If you don't like what you hear you can presumably get a continuance and come back with counsel if you decide that's what you want to do.

Is there any way you can reach out to the DA and try to negotiate a plea for yourself beforehand? This might be something to consider before taking a big leap and hiring a lawyer. I'm sorry to hear about your ordeal and would have similarly no clue what to do if this happened to me.

Agree with the poster above in regards to the continuance/court plea scenario. The only thing that would suck for that is it would be a two day time waste. In my observation of muni-court, parties with private attorneys generally get to go first as well (if time is an issue).

This wouldn't keep you from getting a government job

Yeah not sure this is the scarlet letter you believe it to be. In any event, you may have to report it, whatever the ultimate resolution. Like on C&F, at least in CA, all charges must be disclosed.

OP here

Thanks to all - I had no idea about the continuance and will look into that. Will also consider the plea deal with the DA - really appreciate the advice. I feel like I have nothing to lose at this point but if I hire the lawyer right now, then I instantly am out $3k.

Yes the $100 is something I can pay before hand online, which means pleading guilty. I'm hoping for some leniency as it is a first offense so hopefully a plea can be arranged.

Anonymous User wrote:OP - I agree it seems so crazy steep, and there's obviously no guarantee of any outcome so I could be paying so much more for the same result.

I'm also worried because I want to apply the government and I'm afraid that this will prevent me from getting a government job (at a federal agency like the SEC, Fed, or FDIC).

I can't speak to the others, but that arrest will come up for a DOJ background check. Not a automatic DQ, but something they will dig deep into.

andythefir wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:OP - I agree it seems so crazy steep, and there's obviously no guarantee of any outcome so I could be paying so much more for the same result.

I'm also worried because I want to apply the government and I'm afraid that this will prevent me from getting a government job (at a federal agency like the SEC, Fed, or FDIC).

I can't speak to the others, but that arrest will come up for a DOJ background check. Not a automatic DQ, but something they will dig deep into.

Of course it will come up, and it won't be a DQ unless OP doesn't report it.