How to Find a Top Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney
In a Southern California city such as Ventura, Pasadena, or Los Angeles, criminal lawyers are a dime a dozen. But how do you find the most qualified counsel out of the many expert lawyers in California? Which defense counselor in San Bernardino is immensely educated in forgery law, DUI/DWI law, writs and appeals law, or assault law? A person wanting to hire a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney has to ask himself/herself these questions! People are stunned to realize that many of my clients are first time lawbreakers, who because of dubious circumstances are arrested and charged with a criminality. Sound familiar?
Many of my customers are word of mouth referrals, referred by acquaintances, people in their network or their lawyer. Being referred is the starting step, but how do I, as a prospective client, know if this criminal defense attorney is most appropriate for me? My administrative assistant, Cynthia, is the first person who has communication with a prospective customer. Cynthia is frequently asked if the criminal attorney has any experience handling criminal court trials just like theirs and what is my success rate? Often the client will directly ask me those same question.
Criminal Law Attorney
Those are terrific questions that need to be answered honestly. But how do you know if your criminal defense attorney is honestly telling you the truth? “Buyer beware”- there are a lot of attorneys out there who will exaggerate the facts when it comes to their qualifications and previous experience – my investigator, refers to this puff as the attorney at law “selling wolf tickets”.
To help you find a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney who is suitable for you and your criminal court case, here are five easy steps to help you choose a competent criminal defense attorney.
5 steps to find a criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles
Know the crime you have been arraigned with. Ask colleagues and friends for recommendations to criminal lawyers. Word of mouth is a great way to find an lawyer that’s right for you. You will feel more confident hiring a criminal defense legal representation who was recommended by someone you trust.
Go online to expand your list. A good site to find good criminal lawyers is lawyers.com. Simply type in the area of law and location to determine your query. For example, “Riverside criminal attorney“, or to be even more precise, “drug trafficking attorney San Diego”.
Research the list of attorneys you’ve put together. Find out how long they have been practicing criminal law (general rule of thumb is at least 15 years), how many criminal law court litigations they have won/lost. In California, you can look up an attorney’s undergraduate and law school schooling and how long they have been admitted to the bar at The State Bar of California website. More importantly, check whether the lawyer has an AV Peer Review Rating on lawyers.com website. This rating is a recognition of the attorney’s legal competence and adherence to the highest level of professional ethics as judged by other attorneys and judges.
Ask the legal representation about the fees. Depending on the counsel, rates can vary greatly from 0/hour to over 0/hour. Get his/her costs schedules up front to know precisely what you will be paying. Never be in agreement to work with an attorney that charges a percentage of the total settlement he/she gets for you. It is unethical for the attorney to do so.
Meet with the attorney in person. But before meeting, make sure you find out whether there is an initial consultation fee. Ask as many questions that pertain to your criminal case as possible. Get an overall sense of how comfortable you feel and whether or not he/she is competent enough to represent you in the court of law. Does the defense counselor ask appropriate, sensible questions? Will he/she handle the case or let junior associates do the work?.
Los Angeles Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys
With more than 35 years of criminal trial experience, nationally known defense attorney
David Elden concentrates his practice on complex business and corporate crimes, state and federal drug charges, and grand jury investigations.
Contact the Law Offices of David A. Elden at (800) 455-6200 to find out how his experience and skill can work for you in defending against even the most serious criminal charges.
A Note About Referrals: David Elden invites referrals from other attorneys and law firms. Mr. Elden's reputation as a highly accomplished criminal defense attorney is reflected in the number of referrals he gets from past clients and fellow lawyers. Over 80 percent of his cases come from referrals from other attorneys. At their discretion, referring attorneys may stay active as co-counsel.
Examples of the types of criminal defense in which
David Elden specializes include the following:
- Pre-indictment representation of persons under investigation by the FBI, SEC, DEA, local District Attorney's office, or other state or federal law enforcement agencies
- Counsel for executives and employees of national or multinational corporations implicated in criminal prosecutions
- Pretrial and trial defense in complex conspiracy cases
- White collar crime, including tax fraud, and wire fraud, health care fraud and mortgage loan fraud.
- Drug crimes, both state and federal
These situations are among the most challenging and complicated criminal defense problems that a defendant can encounter. That is why it is important to contact a defense attorney sooner rather than later. With the Law Offices of David A. Elden on your side, you can be assured of an aggressive defense aimed at getting favorable results for you.
Aggressive Representation to Prevent or Defend Against Charges
Whenever possible, it is highly advisable to seek legal advice as soon as you become aware that you are under
criminal investigation. Don't wait until formal charges are filed or returned in an indictment. David Elden is an experienced lawyer and works proactively to begin defending clients as soon as he is retained. His aggressive pre-indictment investigation may be able to prevent charges from being filed in the first place. He will identify witnesses and go after their statements before law enforcement agencies like the FBI are able to do so.
David Elden is a Director of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), a professional organization dedicated to protecting the rights and ensuring due process for persons accused of crime, and serves as co-chair of the NACDL strike force. He is also a past President of the Criminal Courts Bar for Los Angeles County and has been named a Top Southern California Lawyer by Los Angeles magazine. His experience and reputation are an important asset for anyone facing the serious challenge of defending criminal charges.
Contact the offices of David Elden in Los Angeles at (800) 455-6200 for a free complimentary consultation.
The Law Offices of David Elden represents clients in defense of serious or complex criminal charges throughout Southern California. Contact our Southern California office for a free consultation with Criminal defense attorney David Elden. Mr. Elden has been named a Top Lawyer by Los Angeles magazine. He serves clients throughout Southern California and across the United States.