I love my work, and it's an honor to represent my clients when the government accuses them of committing a crime. I understand that people contact me during the most stressful times of their lives, and I try to take away as much of the fear and uncertainty as I can.

Part of that includes approaching your case in a calm, professional manner, bringing the situation under control so we can make sound, well-informed decisions about the actions we take.

Criminal law is a complex field, which has become even more complicated in the past 20 years or so, with the passage of the Three Strikes law, new scientific evidence like DNA testing, and DUI laws that the legislature revises almost every year. I work hard to stay current on the latest legal developments, and spend several times more hours on continuing education than the State Bar requires.

If you've been in a car accident, need a divorce, or have a dispute with your neighbor over a property line, I know good lawyers who can help you and I'd be glad to offer you a referral. Like me, they focus on being the best in one area of the law, instead of trying to dabble in all of them.

Don't talk to anyone about your case. The attorney-client privilege is one of the best legal tools we have. I can tell you more during a free initial consultation.

How much will it cost?

That depends on the seriousness of the charges against you, the stage of the proceeedings, whether you have prior convictions that could increase the punishment for your current offense, and a number of other factors.

I offer a free intitial consultation. Most of the time, that happens in my office in Chico, or at the jail if a client is incarcerated. I can also arrange consultations by phone, or other locations that may be more convenient for you.

After discussing the case, I can quote a fixed fee, with a written agreement setting out exactly what you will pay for each stage of the proceedings. (Some expenses, like hiring a private investigator or an expert witness, are extra.)

Usually, there is one fee for legal services short of a trial, with an additional fee if the case actually goes to trial.

I can often break up the fee into several payments. My office accepts Visa, Mastercard and PayPal, in addition to cash and checks.

Know who you're hiring.

Some "law firms" that advertise extensively in the phone book or on the web just collect your money, then hire a local lawyer to do all the work (for a fraction of what you paid). Beware of any law firm that sends a "case manager" to your home, who tries to collect a large initial retainer before you've even spoken to the lawyer who will actually be representing you.

Whenever possible, I will meet with a potential client in person before accepting a case. If you live outside the area, I will at least speak with you on the phone.

Read the fine print.

When someone wants to hire me, I always prepare a written contract laying out what I am going to do, and what I expect from my client in return. I also make sure my clients know they are free to have another lawyer of their choice review the contract before they sign.

I won't tell you your case is a slam-dunk winner on your first visit to my office. It takes a careful examination of all of the evidence before making any kind of meaningful evaluation of your case. If I don't know the answer to your question, I'll try to find the answer, or it may be a question where only time will tell.

And please, don't ask me to give you the odds of winning. I can tell you the strengths and weaknesses of your case, but I leave the odds to the sports books in Vegas.

I don't make a lot of marketing claims, and most of my clients are referred by other attorneys who are comfortable staking their reputation on recommending me. (I also take some appointed cases when the court asks me to represent someone.)

Here are a few more things to consider:

Does the attorney claim a near-perfect trial record? Check to see what's behind that high percentage; it may include a disproportionate number of traffic court cases prosecuted as a law school intern, against people who were defending themselves without the benefit of an attorney.

How much did that "award" cost? One attorney's list of qualifications includes "Criminal Defense Attorney of the Year in 2004, 2005 & 2006, awarded by the Chico News & Review, Consumer Business Review,” but doesn't mention that the “award” was actually a paid advertisement that was not endorsed by the News & Review’s editorial staff. When the ad was printed in 2004, without being clearly identified as paid advertising, the editor of the News & Review wrote, "Boy, this is embarrassing... Credibility is a valuable commodity, and it’s all we have in this business that separates us from the apes." Click here to read the original article.

Who is Bob Marshall?

I returned to Chico in early 2007, after spending three years working in the Public Defender offices in Solano and Mendocino counties, handling serious felony cases.

I was first introduced to the court systems in Northern California in 1989, as a reporter for a local television station. A number of attorneys and judges recognized my interest in the criminal justice system and encouraged me to attend law school.

I've been in practice since 1999, and have represented clients throughout Northern California, including Butte, Glenn, Tehama, Shasta, Trinity, Colusa, Plumas, Lassen, Yuba, Sutter, Placer, Nevada, Sacramento, Napa, Yolo, Solano and Mendocino Counties.

I have two very nice dogs who are always happy to go for a walk in Bidwell Park, and I enjoy downhill skiing and motorcycle roadracing.