Butler & Simmons in Baltimore: Criminal Defense for Misdemeanor and Felony Cases
Butler & Simmons is a two-attorney criminal defense firm based in Baltimore that handles both misdemeanor and felony cases, with a focus on local court representation and plea negotiation rather than lengthy trial practice.
What Butler & Simmons actually is
Butler & Simmons operates as a small, independent criminal defense practice without corporate backing or high-volume caseload management. The firm takes on cases across Baltimore Circuit Court and District Court, handling drug offenses, assault, theft, weapons charges, and DUI matters. As a lean operation, the firm accepts a limited number of cases per attorney, which means longer continuity with a single lawyer rather than handoff to associates. This model suits clients who want direct attorney access, though it also means the firm occasionally closes to new clients during peak periods.
Services and fee structure
The firm charges hourly rates between $200 and $275 per hour for most cases, with initial consultations at $150 for 30 minutes. For clients unable to pay hourly fees, Butler & Simmons offers flat-fee arrangements for guilty pleas in misdemeanor cases, typically $800 to $1,500 depending on charge severity and negotiation complexity. Felony cases are almost always hourly, since the scope and trial risk are unpredictable. If a case goes to trial, clients should expect retainer agreements of $3,000 to $5,000 upfront, with additional invoicing monthly.
The firm does not work on contingency. They accept cash, checks, and credit cards, and allow payment plans if requested in advance. They do not accept public defender referrals and do not participate in the Baltimore public defender contract.
What the first consultation involves
The initial 30-minute consultation covers the charges, the arrest circumstances, prior record, and the client's goals. Butler & Simmons does not conduct detailed case strategy during the first meeting. Instead, the attorney asks baseline questions: What happened? Were you read your rights? Are you employed? Do you have prior convictions? Do you want to plead or go to trial? The attorney then explains charging standards in Baltimore Circuit or District Court, typical outcomes for the charge, and bail or release options.
Clients should bring the charging documents (citation, warrant, bail paperwork) and any police reports they have. If arrested without documents in hand, the firm can retrieve charging information from the District Court docket before the meeting.
How Butler & Simmons compares to Baltimore criminal defense alternatives
Baltimore has a two-tier criminal defense market: solo practitioners and small firms like Butler & Simmons on one end, and larger criminal defense mills like Goldberg Law Group on the other.
Larger firms with 10 or more attorneys (such as those affiliated with aggressive marketing campaigns) typically charge lower hourly rates ($150 to $200) because they move cases quickly and assign them to junior attorneys or paralegals for initial review. They excel at high-volume guilty pleas and quick negotiation, but offer less continuity and less custom strategy.
Butler & Simmons sits in the middle: higher rates than high-volume shops, but direct attorney contact and longer client relationships. Choose Butler & Simmons if you want a single attorney to know your case from intake through sentencing or trial. Choose a high-volume firm if cost is the primary concern and you expect a straightforward plea resolution.
Baltimore public defenders (the Public Defender's Office) are free for those who qualify by income, but carry caseloads averaging 200 cases per attorney. Private defense is better suited to clients with means who want individualized attention or whose cases involve significant trial risk (gang charges, repeat felony, substantial sentencing exposure).
Who Butler & Simmons suits and who it does not
Butler & Simmons works best for clients facing misdemeanor or lower-level felony charges (drug possession, simple assault, theft under $1,000) who want a knowledgeable local attorney but cannot afford top-tier criminal firms ($300+ hourly rates). It also suits clients in white-collar cases (fraud, forgery, embezzlement) where detailed financial analysis and negotiation are required.
The firm is not well-suited for clients on a tight budget or those confident in a rapid guilty plea to a minor charge. It is also not a match for clients arrested on violent felonies with mandatory minimum sentences or complex federal charges; those require larger firms with specialized litigation resources.
Hours, location, and logistics
Butler & Simmons operates out of an office on Charles Street in downtown Baltimore, one block east of the Baltimore Circuit Court building. This proximity allows same-day or next-day consultation for jail clients and quick courthouse meetings. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with evening and weekend appointments available by request. Street parking is available; there is no private lot.
Butler & Simmons is included in Baltimore's criminal defense landscape because its fee structure and misdemeanor-to-felony scope fit the mid-market client who has been charged locally and needs direct legal counsel in District or Circuit Court.
