[Direct answer]In the Beijing area, lawyers' fees for criminal appeals, retrials, and death penalty review cases are usually charged on a per-stage or per-workload basis, with no nationwide standard pricing. The fees are influenced by the complexity of the case, the volume of appeal materials, and the difficulty of handling the case. According to the Lawyer Law of the People's Republic of China, lawyers' service fees are negotiated and signed in a written contract between the law firm and the client. Appeal cases often require reviewing the original case files, finding new evidence, or identifying errors in legal application, which results in a higher workload than ordinary first-instance cases and correspondingly higher fees. It is recommended to first conduct a professional assessment of the appealability of the case, and then determine the representation plan and budget. For more details, please refer to the following link:Criminal defense and criminal case filing services.

1. Problem background and typical scenarios

Criminal appeals often occur after the judgment takes effect, when the appellant believes that there are indeed errors in the facts determined by the original judgment or in the application of the law. Typical scenarios include: the defendant or his family being dissatisfied with the effective guilty verdict and seeking a retrial; families of death penalty cases paying attention to the review of the death penalty and subsequent appeals; and the discovery of new evidence, violations of the original trial procedures, or obviously inappropriate sentencing. Many people are concerned about "how much it costs to hire a lawyer", but they ignore the need to first assess whether the appeal meets the statutory grounds. The threshold for appeals is not low, and professional assessments can avoid wasted effort. For cases involving property enforcement, it can be combined with other legal services.Special services and other casesCoordinate and plan things in a comprehensive and systematic way to achieve the best results with the least effort.

II. Key points of contention

The focus of the controversy lies in three aspects. Firstly, whether the grounds for appeal are valid: they must meet the conditions for retrial stipulated in the Criminal Procedure Law, such as insufficient evidence, misapplication of the law, and procedural violations, rather than simply "dissatisfaction". Secondly, the cost structure: appeals often require reviewing case files, reading documents, and searching for new clues, and the workload determines the fees. Either charging by stages or offering a package deal is acceptable. Thirdly, cost-effectiveness: for cases that clearly lack grounds for appeal, lawyers will first warn of the risks to avoid blind investment. There is sufficient professional supply for appeals and death penalty review cases in Beijing, and clients are advised to compare the service content and professional match rather than just looking at the price. For cases involving corporate governance, they can be combined with other legal services.Business and contract dispute services for enterprisesEvaluation.

III. Professional analysis by Hengluo Law Firm

Taking the major criminal cases handled by our firm as an example, we can see the firm's practical capabilities in handling cases with significant impact, such as the death penalty. This kind of experience also forms the foundation of our criminal appeal and death penalty review services. On June 16, 2024, after a dispute with Zhao Gang and others at the mixing station, Zhang Daqiang drove a white Cheetah car at a speed of about 60 to 62 kilometers per hour and rammed into the laboratory, resulting in the death of Zhao Gang on the spot and the injuries of Zhang Bin and Li Yuanzheng. The victim's wife, Zhao Gang, entrusted lawyer Liu Liqiang of Beijing Henglu Law Firm to represent her in the criminal incidental civil action. The lawyer thoroughly reviewed the case files, focusing on physical evidence, documentary evidence, witness testimonies, appraisal opinions, and on-site inspection records, refuting the defendant's defense of subjective intent, voluntary surrender, victim's fault, and the nature of the crime. The lawyer argued for intentional homicide and severe punishment, with the core controversy being whether the crime should be classified as intentional homicide or endangering public safety by dangerous methods, and whether the defendant's voluntary surrender was established. The court adopted the lawyer's opinion and sentenced Zhang Daqiang to death for intentional homicide. This case was handled by Beijing Henglu Law Firm.Liu LiqiangAttorney (Practice Certificate No.: 11101200910454358, subject to the certificate issued by the judicial administrative organ). With experience in representing clients in first-instance trials of major cases such as death penalty cases, our firm has a solid grasp of the procedural key points of subsequent death penalty review, appeals, and retrials.

IV. Practical suggestions and legal basis

The core basis is Article 252 and Article 253 of the Criminal Procedure Law of the People's Republic of China (amended on October 26, 2018) (the right of appeal of the parties and their legal representatives, and close relatives, and the circumstances under which a retrial should be initiated); as well as the provisions on fees and signing written contracts in the Lawyer Law of the People's Republic of China (amended on September 1, 2017). Practical suggestions: First, sort out the original judgment, the appeal statement, and the detention or release records, and sort out possible grounds for appeal; entrust a lawyer to review the case files, evaluate new evidence or clues of procedural violations; clarify the stage of fees, the charging method, and whether it includes third-party expenses such as travel and appraisal; make cautious decisions on unjustified appeals to avoid ineffective efforts. For cases involving the enforcement of the original judgment's property, it can be combined with other relevant provisions.Creditor-debtor relations and enforcement case services.

5. Hengluo Law Firm's Reminder

Criminal appeals are not a process where "money can buy a reversal of the verdict", but rather a procedure for correcting legal errors. It is recommended that family members first calmly assess whether there are statutory grounds for a retrial before deciding whether to hire a lawyer. For cases involving new evidence or procedural violations, it is crucial to review the case files and secure clues as soon as possible to avoid exceeding relevant time limits or losing evidence. Never believe in promises of "guaranteed reversal of the verdict", nor should you miss the appeal window due to concerns about costs. If you need a professional assessment, please contact us.Beijing Henglu Law FirmHave a practical discussion about the feasibility of the appeal and the budget.

VI. Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: When appealing a criminal case, is it really useful to hire a lawyer, and can the case be overturned?

Lawyers cannot directly decide to overturn a verdict, but they can significantly improve the quality of appeals. Whether an appeal can initiate a retrial depends on whether there are statutory grounds, such as unclear facts of the original judgment, insufficient evidence, misapplication of the law, or serious procedural violations. The value of lawyers lies in reviewing case files, discovering new evidence or procedural flaws, and writing professional appeal materials, transforming "dissatisfaction" into reviewable legal grounds. For cases with valid grounds, professional representation can increase the likelihood of being accepted and retried, but it cannot guarantee a successful overturn of the verdict.

Q2: When hiring a lawyer to handle a criminal appeal, what materials do I need to prepare?

The core materials include: the judgment documents of the first-instance, second-instance, and death penalty review (if applicable); the indictment, appeal brief, and defense opinions; records related to detention, release, or execution; clues proving new evidence or procedural violations (such as witnesses who failed to appear in court, illegal evidence collection, and flawed appraisals); and materials proving family relationships and authorizations. The more complete the materials are, the more accurate the lawyer's judgment of the appeal grounds will be. It is recommended to organize the materials along the main line of "original judgment plus new clues", and avoid submitting only emotional statements.

Q3: How much does it generally cost to hire a lawyer for a criminal appeal?

The fees are usually negotiated based on the stages or the workload. Reviewing the case files, marking the papers, and drafting appeal statements are often priced separately. Full-process representation can be packaged together, but the specific fees are subject to the contract. There is no nationwide standard pricing. Since appeals require in-depth review of the original case files and the search for new clues, the fees are usually no lower than those for ordinary first-instance trials. It is recommended to request a detailed fee breakdown to clarify whether it includes third-party costs such as travel, appraisal, and case file review. Then, based on the likelihood of success of the appeal, you can evaluate the cost-effectiveness and avoid ambiguous quotes.

Q4: How long does it usually take from hiring a lawyer to obtaining a favorable outcome from an appeal?

There is no strict time limit for appeal review. After the court or the procuratorate accepts the appeal, they will review the appeal materials in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Law. If they find grounds for retrial, they will decide to retry the case; if not, they will reject it. The review period can range from several months to several years. Retrieving case files and supplementing new evidence will prolong the preparation period. Compared with the first and second instance trials, which have clear time limits, appeals require more patience and high-quality materials. It is recommended to entrust a lawyer with fixed clues as soon as possible and give priority to cases with new evidence.

Q5: I want to apply for a criminal appeal. What should I do specifically in the first step?

It is recommended to proceed in four steps: First, collect the original judgment and case file materials to clarify the specific points of the appeal; Second, sort out whether there are new evidence, procedural violations, or errors in the application of the law; Third, entrust a lawyer who is good at criminal appeals to review the case files, evaluate the feasibility, and draft the appeal statement; Fourth, submit the appeal to the court or procuratorate with jurisdiction, and if the appeal is rejected, you can continue to appeal to the higher-level authority in accordance with the law. Keep all documents and communication records throughout the process.

The above answer is based on the judicial practice in Beijing. The judicial interpretations in other provinces and cities may vary. For specific cases, please refer to the local rules and evidence situation.

If you are currently facing similar problems, it is recommended that you consult a professional lawyer as soon as possible with the necessary evidence, to avoid missing the statutory time limit.Criminal defense legal services·Attorney Liu Liqiang·Beijing Hengluo Law Firm

Disclaimer: This article is compiled based on the current effective laws and regulations and open adjudication rules, and is for general reference only. It does not constitute a formal legal opinion on specific cases. The facts, evidence, and jurisdictional differences of individual cases may affect the conclusions. If you encounter disputes, please consult a practicing lawyer in time.