Start with a defined service, then retain counsel by stage
Preliminary services
| Service | Fee in USD | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Initial inquiry and quotation | Free | One suitability check and fee explanation; no substantive advice or continuing document review. |
| Written preliminary assessment | US$300 | Up to five pages, a concise summary, one round of written questions and a short assessment. |
| Detailed case evaluation | US$750 | Up to 2,000 background words and ten document pages, with written opinion; credit US$300 if upgrading. |
| Emergency detention verification | From US$2,000 | Agreed efforts to identify custody, authority and accessible charge information; availability depends on the case. |
| Detention-center meeting | From US$1,500 | Meeting, advice and written family report. Travel and external interpretation separate. |
| Basic overseas appointment guidance | Included in formal defense | Included in formal defense; complex certification and external translation separate. |
| Embassy or consular coordination | From US$1,000 | Agreed liaison and documents; no guarantee of consular action or access. |
| Service | Per stage | Optional three-stage arrangement |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying minor cases | From US$6,000 | From US$15,000 |
| Standard cases | From US$10,000 | From US$25,000 |
| Complex cases | Quoted after evaluation | |
Minor and standard categories are confirmed after assessment. Complex cases require an individual quotation.
Three stages through first-instance trial are optional. Each stage includes 2 detention-center meetings.
Meetings, appeals and additional work
| Service | Fee in USD | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Prison meeting | From US$1,500 | Advice to a sentenced prisoner, subject to access requirements. |
| Additional agreed work | US$500 / hour | Outside-package work only after scope and charging basis are agreed. |
| Appeal after first-instance representation | From US$5,000 | Where Lawyer Mark represented the defendant at first instance. |
| Appeal-only appointment | From US$20,000 | New appointment limited to the appeal. |
| Supreme People's Court death-penalty review | Quoted after evaluation | Individual quotation after assessment. |
Payment, interpretation and expenses
Fees are paid to Beijing Huicheng Law Firm in USD, RMB, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, after receiving-account and amount confirmation. A relative or friend in China may pay on your behalf. No online checkout.
English meetings have no separate interpreter fee. Other languages requiring a qualified external translation company have separate costs. Preliminary written discussions have no translation charge.
Basic overseas appointment guidance is included in formal defense. Complex notarization, authentication, certification, external translation and travel outside Beijing are additional.
Additional work and charging basis are agreed beforehand. Fees are not outcome-based; the signed agreement controls scope and price.
FAQs
Can I start with a US$300 assessment?
Yes: up to five pages, concise background, one round of written questions and a short assessment. No meeting, full-file review, authority submissions or formal defense. Detailed evaluation is US$750, crediting US$300 if upgraded.
What is included in a free inquiry?
Suitability, conflict-check basics and fee explanation. It excludes substantive advice, detailed review and continuing correspondence on the merits. Send a summary first and await instructions for extensive or sensitive materials.
Must I pay three stages at once?
No. Retain the current stage: minor from US$6,000, standard from US$10,000, subject to assessment. Complex cases are individually quoted. Three-stage representation is optional.
Are initial fees and the first meeting credited?
Eligible fees, including the first meeting, may be credited against first-stage defense under written conditions. Amount and any deadline are agreed. Travel, certification and external interpreter costs are excluded.
Can I communicate without calling?
Yes, through email, WhatsApp or WeChat. Preliminary written communication has no translation charge in all eight languages. Tools assist and important instructions are clarified. English meetings have no separate interpreter fee; other-language meetings needing a qualified translation company have separate costs.
How do I pay, and can someone in China pay for me?
Law-firm bank instructions follow agreed services and engagement. Accepted currencies: USD, RMB, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, account and amount confirmed. A relative or friend in China may pay with details confirmed. No online purchase or card checkout.
Are overseas formalities and travel included?
Basic appointment guidance is included in formal defense. Complex notarization, authentication, certification or translation coordination may be separately quoted. Third-party costs and travel outside Beijing are additional.