Representation for a murder trial can easily cost $100,000, and more, depending on how complicated and/or lengthy the whole process is.
Put down $10,000 for a retainer, pay more as and when the payment agreement they sign says.
In Gable Tostee's murder trial, they said his top criminal lawyer would charge about $6,000 a day for court appearances alone.
Then they pay for every other little thing. Letters produced and signed, paralegal research, consultations, phone calls. Every minute of a lawyer's time costs money.
Sometimes a lawyer will do it for a fixed fee, but that is not the norm.