If you are facing criminal charges in Sherman Oaks, CA, you need a skilled and experienced criminal defense lawyer to protect your rights and fight for your best outcome.
But how do you find the right lawyer for your case?
Here are some tips and resources to help you with your search.
Credit: (Sora Shimazaki )
1. Look for a lawyer who specializes in criminal defense.
Criminal law is a complex and constantly changing field that requires specific knowledge and skills. You don’t want to hire a lawyer who dabbles in criminal defense as a side gig. You want a lawyer who focuses exclusively on criminal defense and has the credentials to prove it.
One way to find a specialist is to look for a lawyer who is certified by the State Bar of California as a Criminal Law Specialist.
This means that the lawyer has met rigorous standards of education, experience, and examination in criminal law. Only about 400 lawyers in California have this certification.
Another way to find a specialist is to look for a lawyer who belongs to reputable professional associations, such as the California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, or the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Criminal Justice Section.
These associations provide their members with ongoing training, networking, and advocacy opportunities in criminal defense.
2. Look for a lawyer who has experience with your type of case.
Not all criminal cases are the same.
Depending on the nature and severity of your charges, you may face different penalties, procedures, and defenses.
You need a lawyer who has handled cases similar to yours and knows how to navigate the local courts and prosecutors.
For example, if you are charged with a sex crime, you need a lawyer who understands the nuances of sex crime laws, the potential consequences of sex offender registration, and the strategies to challenge the evidence and credibility of the accusers.
A lawyer who specializes in sex crimes is Lisa Houlé from Houlé Law, APC.
If you are charged with a white-collar crime, such as fraud, embezzlement, or money laundering, you need a lawyer who knows how to deal with complex financial documents, forensic accounting, and federal agencies.
A lawyer who specializes in white-collar crimes is Vitaly Sigal from Sigal Law Group.
3. Look for a lawyer who has a proven track record of success.
The best way to judge a lawyer’s ability is to look at their results.
You want a lawyer who has won cases at trial, negotiated favorable plea deals, or obtained dismissals or reductions of charges for their clients.
You also want a lawyer who has positive reviews and testimonials from their past clients.
One way to find a successful lawyer is to look at their Super Lawyers profile.
Super Lawyers is a rating service that recognizes the top lawyers in each practice area based on peer nominations, evaluations, and independent research.
Only 5% of lawyers in each state are selected as Super Lawyers.
Another way to find a successful lawyer is to look at their website and social media pages.
There you can find information about their case results, client reviews, awards, media appearances, and publications.
You can also contact them directly and ask them about their success rate and experience with your type of case.
4. Look for a lawyer who offers free consultation and reasonable fees.
Before you hire a lawyer, you should meet with them in person or over the phone to discuss your case and see if you are comfortable working with them.
Most criminal defense lawyers offer free initial consultation, which gives you an opportunity to ask questions, get advice, and evaluate their personality and professionalism.
You should also ask about their fees and payment options.
Criminal defense lawyers typically charge either by the hour or by a flat fee depending on the complexity of your case.
You should find out how much they charge, what services are included, and how they accept payments.
You should also ask if they offer payment plans or discounts for certain situations.
5. Contact one of these top Sherman Oaks criminal defense lawyers today.
If you are looking for a qualified, experienced, and successful criminal defense lawyer in Sherman Oaks, CA, here are some of the best options:
- Lisa Houlé from Houlé Law, APC: A former prosecutor with over 20 years of experience in criminal law. She specializes in sex crimes, domestic violence, and violent crimes.
- Vitaly Sigal from Sigal Law Group: A former public defender with over 15 years of experience in criminal law. He specializes in white-collar crimes, immigration crimes, and federal crimes.
- Stephen Sitkoff from Sitkoff & Hanrahan LLP: A certified Criminal Law Specialist with over 30 years of experience in criminal law. He handles all types of misdemeanor and felony cases.
- Alison Saros from Saros Law APC: A former deputy district attorney with over 25 years of experience in criminal law. She handles all types of criminal cases, including DUI, drug crimes, theft crimes, and violent crimes.
Don’t wait any longer. Contact one of these top Sherman Oaks criminal defense lawyers today and get the representation you deserve.
Top 16 lawyers in Sherman Oaks according to Justia.
Justia is a legal directory that provides information about lawyers and law firms in different practice areas and locations. According to Justia, here are the top 16 lawyers in Sherman Oaks, CA, based on their ratings, reviews, and profiles:
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Lisa Houlé
Credit: (lisa houle.com)
Lisa Houlé from Houlé Law, APC: A former prosecutor with over 20 years of experience in criminal law. She specializes in sex crimes, domestic violence, and violent crimes. She is admitted to practice in California and the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. She has a J.D. from Loyola Law School and a B.A. from UCLA. She has been recognized as a Super Lawyer, a Top 100 Trial Lawyer, and a Top Woman Attorney in Southern California. Contact (424) 332-9079
2. Vitaly Sigal
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Vitaly Sigal from Sigal Law Group: A former public defender with over 15 years of experience in criminal law. He specializes in white collar crimes, immigration crimes, and federal crimes. He is admitted to practice in California, New York, and the U.S. District Courts for the Central, Eastern, Northern, and Southern Districts of California. He has a J.D. from Loyola Law School and a B.A. from UCLA. He has been recognized as a Super Lawyer, a Top 100 Trial Lawyer, and a Top Criminal Defense Attorney by various publications. Contact 213-620-0212.
3. Stephen Sitkoff
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Stephen Sitkoff from Sitkoff & Hanrahan LLP: A certified Criminal Law Specialist with over 30 years of experience in criminal law. He handles all types of misdemeanor and felony cases. He is admitted to practice in California and the U.S. Supreme Court. He has a J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law and a B.A. from UCLA. He has been recognized as a Super Lawyer, a Best Lawyer in America, and a Preeminent Lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell. Contact 888-579-4844.
4. Alison Saros
Courtesy: (soroslaw)
Alison Saros from Saros Law APC: A former deputy district attorney with over 25 years of experience in criminal law. She handles all types of criminal cases, including DUI, drug crimes, theft crimes, and violent crimes. She is admitted to practice in California and the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. She has a J.D. from Loyola Law School and a B.A. from UC Berkeley. She has been recognized as a Super Lawyer, a Top 100 Trial Lawyer, and a Top Woman Attorney in Southern California. Contact (310) 341-3466.
5. Michael Goldstein
Courtesy: (goldsteinlawgroup)
Michael Goldstein from Goldstein Law Group: A former prosecutor with over 20 years of experience in criminal law. He handles all types of criminal cases, including juvenile crimes, sex crimes, domestic violence, and homicide. He is admitted to practice in California and the U.S. District Courts for the Central and Southern Districts of California. He has a J.D. from Loyola Law School and a B.A. from UC Santa Barbara. He has been recognized as a Super Lawyer, a Top 100 Trial Lawyer, and a Top Criminal Defense Attorney by various publications. Contact (213) 629-7621.
6. Brian Hurwitz
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Brian Hurwitz from Hurwitz Law Group: A former public defender with over 10 years of experience in criminal law. He handles all types of criminal cases, including DUI, drug crimes, theft crimes, and violent crimes. He is admitted to practice in California and the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. He has a J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law and a B.A. from UC Santa Barbara. He has been recognized as a Super Lawyer Rising Star, a Top 40 Under 40 Trial Lawyer, and a Top Criminal Defense Attorney by various publications. Contact (323) 244-4147.
7. Simon Aval
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Simon Aval from Law Offices of Simon Aval: A former prosecutor with over 20 years of experience in criminal law. He handles all types of criminal cases, including DUI, drug crimes, theft crimes, and violent crimes. He is admitted to practice in California and the U.S. Supreme Court. He has a J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law and a B.A. from UCLA. He has been recognized as a Super Lawyer Rising Star, a Top 100 Trial Lawyer, and a Top Criminal Defense Attorney by various publications. Contact (626) 432-1700.
8. Stephanie Loftin
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Stephanie Loftin from Long Beach Law: A former public defender with over 30 years of experience in criminal law. She handles all types of criminal cases, including DUI, drug crimes, theft crimes, and violent crimes. She is admitted to practice in California and the U.S. Supreme Court. She has a J.D. from Loyola Law School and a B.A. from UC Berkeley. She has been recognized as a Super Lawyer Rising Star, a Top 100 Trial Lawyer, and a Top Woman Attorney in Southern California. Contact (562) 621 6300.
9. Sara Azari
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Sara Azari from Law Office of Sara Azari, APC: A former prosecutor with over 20 years of experience in criminal law. She handles all types of criminal cases, including white collar crimes, federal crimes, and fraud. She is admitted to practice in California, New York, and the U.S. District Courts for the Central and Southern Districts of California. She has a J.D. from Loyola Law School and a B.A. from UCLA. She has been recognized as a Super Lawyer, a Top 100 Trial Lawyer, and a Top Criminal Defense Attorney by various publications. Contact (213) 622-5000.
10. Tiffany E Feder
Source: (yelp)
Tiffany E Feder from Institute for Immigration: A former prosecutor with over 10 years of experience in criminal law. She handles all types of criminal cases, including immigration crimes, DUI, drug crimes, and theft crimes. She is admitted to practice in California and the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. She has a J.D. from Loyola Law School and a B.A. from UC Berkeley. She has been recognized as a Super Lawyer Rising Star, a Top 40 Under 40 Trial Lawyer, and a Top Woman Attorney in Southern California. Contact 818-380-7500.
11. Armen Kiramijyan
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Armen Kiramijyan from Kaass Law: A former prosecutor with over 10 years of experience in criminal law. He handles all types of criminal cases, including DUI, drug crimes, theft crimes, and violent crimes. He is admitted to practice in California and the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. He has a J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law and a B.A. from UCLA. He has been recognized as a Super Lawyer Rising Star, a Top 40 Under 40 Trial Lawyer, and a Top Criminal Defense Attorney by various publications. Contact 310-943-1171.
12. Anthony J Falangetti
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Anthony J Falangetti from West Coast Defense: A former prosecutor with over 20 years of experience in criminal law. He handles all types of criminal cases, including homicide, sex crimes, domestic violence, and white collar crimes. He is admitted to practice in California and the U.S. Supreme Court. He has a J.D. from Loyola Law School and a B.A. from UCLA. He has been recognized as a Super Lawyer, a Best Lawyer in America, and a Preeminent Lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell. Contact 800-923-1776.
13. Michael Kraut
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Michael Kraut from Kraut Law Group: A former prosecutor with over 15 years of experience in criminal law. He handles all types of criminal cases, including DUI, drug crimes, theft crimes, and violent crimes. He is admitted to practice in California and the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. He has a J.D. from Harvard Law School and a B.A. from Cornell University. He has been recognized as a Super Lawyer Rising Star, a Top 100 Trial Lawyer, and a Top Criminal Defense Attorney by various publications. Contact (888) 334-6344.
14. Diana Aizman
Credit: (aizmanlaw)
Diana Aizman from Aizman Law Firm: A former prosecutor with over 10 years of experience in criminal law. She handles all types of criminal cases, including DUI, drug crimes, theft crimes, and violent crimes. She is admitted to practice in California and the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. She has a J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law and a B.A. from UC Santa Barbara. She has been recognized as a Super Lawyer Rising Star, a Top 40 Under 40 Trial Lawyer, and a Top Woman Attorney in Southern California. Contact 818-351-9555.
15. Robert Schwartz
Source: (dickinson)
Robert Schwartz from Schwartz & Naderi: A certified Criminal Law Specialist with over 30 years of experience in criminal law. He handles all types of criminal cases, including homicide, sex crimes, domestic violence, and white collar crimes. He is admitted to practice in California and the U.S. Supreme Court. He has a J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law and a B.A. from UCLA. He has been recognized as a Super Lawyer, a Best Lawyer in America, and a Preeminent Lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell. Contact 585-763-0500.
16. David Elden
Source: (Facebook)
David Elden from Elden Law Group: A certified Criminal Law Specialist with over 35 years of experience in criminal law. He handles all types of criminal cases, including federal crimes, white collar crimes, fraud, and conspiracy. He is admitted to practice in California and the U.S. Supreme Court. He has a J.D. from UCLA School of Law and a B.A. from UCLA. He has earned recognition as a Super Lawyer, been named a Best Lawyer in America, and received the designation of a Preeminent Lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell. His office address is 11377 W. Olympic Blvd. 10th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90064 – 1625.
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