Meghann Cuniff is a legal affairs journalist who is a veteran of daily newspapers and has deep experience reporting on complex civil litigation, including mass torts and class actions, securities cases, patent disputes and high-stakes litigation involving major tech companies. She's based in Southern California.
Meghann Cuniff
Meghann Cuniff is a legal affairs journalist who is a veteran of daily newspapers and has deep experience reporting on complex civil litigation, including mass torts and class actions, securities cases, patent disputes and high-stakes litigation involving major tech companies. She's based in Southern California.
Jeffrey Johnson has written novels and movies in addition to legal analyses of eminent domain and immigration law. His experience in writing engaging fiction makes him uniquely capable of making the most dry and academic legal topics interesting (or as interesting as possible).
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Jeffrey Johnson, J.D.
Jeffrey Johnson has written novels and movies in addition to legal analyses of eminent domain and immigration law. His experience in writing engaging fiction makes him uniquely capable of making the most dry and academic legal topics interesting (or as interesting as possible).
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
Los Angeles’s famous attractions include Venice Beach and the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but the city’s courthouses also double as tourist attractions for people interested in not only the law, but celebrities accused of breaking it. The City of Angels’ celebrity population makes it home to high-profile cases and unique crimes, and it has a thriving criminal defense bar that’s deeply experienced in both state and federal court, from preliminary hearings and arraignments to plea deals, jury trials and sentencings.
Finding the best criminal defense lawyer in Los Angeles to take your criminal case will bring you peace of mind and make sure your rights are protected every step of the way.
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Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Los Angeles
Compare Top Criminal Defense Attorneys
Criminal procedure in California
Criminal law can be complex and the court process can be long, but knowing a few basics can make things easier. Here are some things to consider about California’s criminal justice system.
Misdemeanors
A misdemeanor crime in California isn’t as serious as a felony, but it still can disrupt your life and hurt your future. A conviction carries up to a year in county jail and a $1,000 fine. You also can be placed on probation for three to five years.
Felonies
A felony in California is a crime that can carry more than one year of incarceration in state prison, instead of county jail. Violent and other serious felonies can be considered strikes under the state’s three strikes law, which leads to a life sentence for a third conviction. Some felonies can be reduced to misdemeanors, but not all.
Preliminary hearings
In California, crimes charged by prosecutors and not through a grand jury indictment lead to a preliminary hearing in which a judge decides if the case can proceed to a jury trial. This can involve examining the evidence and the probable cause supporting an arrest. A good criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles will know how to use these issues to help your case and possibly negotiate a plea agreement.
Jury trials
Criminal defendants in California have a right to have their guilty decided by a jury of 12 qualified state citizens. All jurors must agree on not guilty or guilty for there to be a verdict; otherwise, the jury is considered a deadlock and the judge can declare a mistrial. Most cases don’t go to a jury, but your lawyer will know if a jury trial is right for your case.
Plea deals
Many criminal defendants in California avoid jury trials through plea bargains that involve prosecutors agreeing to recommend more lenient sentences than what defendants may get if convicted by a jury at trial. A good criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles will know how to negotiate a plea agreement and can explain the benefits and drawbacks.
How to Find the Best Criminal Defense Lawyer in Los Angeles, CA
Finding the best criminal defense lawyer in Los Angeles depends on your specific charges. It also can depend on personal preference, so here are some things to consider when looking for the right attorney for you.
- Acquittals and dismissals. Your case isn’t likely to go to trial, but a good criminal defense attorney will have the experience needed to educate you on your chances if you do. You want to find someone who is experienced in trials and knows the local prosecutor’s office and the judges who may preside over your case.
- Communication and case load. You will be discussing personal issues with your attorney, so you want to find someone with whom you can speak candidly. You also want to find someone who has time to listen to your concerns and answer your questions. Some attorneys have paralegals and younger attorneys who do a lot of casework, while others limit their cases to allow for a more personal approach. Consider what you want and how an attorney’s style fits with that.
- Reputation and connections. Los Angeles is a big city, but the legal community is tight knit, and the criminal justice system is even tighter. Try to gauge the reputation and influence of each criminal defense attorney you are considering by asking for references, researching their associations and connections and reading their client reviews.
- Rates and billing. Some lawyers cost more than others, and some cost a lot more than others. Your budget may dictate who you can hire, but you also should compare rates of similarly situated criminal defense attorneys in Los Angeles to ensure you are getting a fair price. Some attorneys may charge a flat fee for certain phases of your cases, while others may charge an hourly rate.
Methodology
To come up with the Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Los Angeles in 2024, Forbes Advisor considered many factors. Forbes Advisor’s mathematical analysis considers and weighs the information collected to calculate a specific rating and reviews these results to find the best attorneys in a given practice area.
Within the model, we take into account factors that legal professionals and consumers value in an attorney’s qualifications. After assigning weighted scores to hundreds of data points, we narrowed the field down to our top choices based on:
- Legal experience
- Special licenses & certifications
- Ethics and bar disciplinary measures
- Legal thought leadership
- Education & employment background
- Scholarly lectures & writings
- Awards & honors
Forbes Advisor collects public data from a variety of sources, including state bar associations, court records and other published sources on the internet. This information should not be considered comprehensive, however. It might not include additional relevant information on an attorney’s legal skills and experience.
Each lawyer listed here has their own merits. Bear in mind that our list relates to these lawyers’ legal backgrounds but does not evaluate their personalities or their knowledge of the law. One attorney may be more suitable than another for your specific legal situation.
One thing that can’t be quantified, though, is the rapport you establish with your attorney. Personality goes a long way when teaming up with an attorney, especially when going through a potentially difficult legal situation. These rankings should serve as a reference and potential starting point in your search for the right lawyer for you and your legal concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can people go to jail for misdemeanor charges?
Yes. A person who is arrested on a misdemeanor charge can be jailed immediately, though Los Angeles County is under a no-bail system for non-violent and lesser offenses that could ensure the accused is released soon after booking. A conviction at trial or a guilty plea through an agreement with prosecutors could bring mandatory jail time, which is something your Los Angeles criminal defense attorney can explain in detail.
How long will it take to resolve my criminal case in Los Angeles?
Resolving your Los Angeles criminal case could take anywhere from a few weeks to a few years, depending on the complexity of your case and severity of the charges. Infractions and misdemeanors could be quickly resolved through plea negotiations, but serious felonies can take much longer. If you want to take your case before a jury at trial, expect to allow time for not only lengthy case preparation, but the court’s busy calendar.
How often are criminal cases dismissed?
Criminal cases are dismissed every day in Los Angeles. But the number is still small compared to the number of cases that end in conviction. Your criminal defense attorney should be able to examine your case and tell you if there are evidentiary problems or other issues that could lead to dismissal or a more favorable plea deal than prosecutors may initially present.
