Lawyers in California

Finding a lawyer in California

California has one of the largest and most varied legal markets in the country, with firms ranging from small solo practices to large statewide operations. This catalog groups California law firms by practice area and location, so you can start with the type of legal problem you have rather than searching blind. Once you find a few firms that look like a fit, the next steps are the same everywhere: check the lawyer's license, ask about experience with cases like yours, and get the fee arrangement in writing before you sign anything.

When you need a lawyer (and when you may not)

Some situations call for a lawyer early and clearly: an arrest or criminal charge, a serious injury, a divorce involving children or significant property, an immigration case, a business dispute headed to court, or any letter that says you're being sued. In these cases, waiting can cost you rights or deadlines you can't get back.

Other situations are often manageable without hiring a lawyer, at least at first — a simple lease question, a small claims case (California's small claims court is built for people to represent themselves), or drafting a basic will. Even then, a single consultation with a lawyer, which many firms offer at low or no cost, can tell you whether your situation is simple or more complicated than it looks.

Common practice areas in California

• Personal Injury — car accidents, slip-and-falls and other cases where someone was hurt due to another party's negligence.
• Car Accident — a focused subset of personal injury dealing specifically with auto collisions and insurance claims.
• Family & Divorce — divorce, custody, child support and division of property.
• Criminal Defense — representing someone charged with a crime, from misdemeanors to felonies.
• DUI & DWI — defense specific to driving-under-the-influence charges, which carry their own procedures in California.
• Immigration — a federal area of law covering visas, green cards, asylum and deportation defense, handled the same way regardless of which state you're in.
• Bankruptcy — another federal area, covering Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings for individuals and businesses.
• Estate Planning & Probate — wills, trusts and the court process for settling an estate after someone dies.
• Real Estate — disputes and transactions involving property, leases and title.
• Employment — wrongful termination, wage disputes and workplace discrimination claims.
• Workers' Compensation — claims for injuries that happened on the job.
• Business — formation, contracts and disputes between companies or partners.

How to check a lawyer's license in California

Every lawyer practicing in California must be licensed by the State Bar of California, which keeps a public record of every attorney's status. Before hiring anyone, look them up through the State Bar's attorney search to confirm the license is active and see whether there's any public disciplinary history. A lawyer who resists being checked this way is a warning sign in itself.

How to choose a law firm

Look past general reputation and ask specifically about experience with your type of case — a firm that's excellent at business contracts isn't necessarily the right pick for a custody dispute. Ask who will actually handle your case day to day, since larger firms sometimes hand cases to junior staff after the initial meeting. Get clear on how you'll be billed: contingency (a percentage of any settlement, common in injury cases), hourly, or a flat fee, and get that arrangement in writing. Good firms also explain how and how often they'll update you as your case moves forward.

Questions to ask at the first consultation

1. Have you handled cases like mine before, and how many?
2. Who on your team will actually be working on my case?
3. How do you charge, and what's included in that fee?
4. What outcomes are realistic here, and what are the risks?
5. How will you keep me updated as the case progresses?
6. What do you need from me to get started?
7. Roughly how long do cases like mine typically take?
8. What happens if we disagree about strategy along the way?

Free and low-cost legal help

If cost is a concern, California has a network of legal aid organizations that help lower-income residents with civil matters such as housing, family law and public benefits. The State Bar of California also runs a lawyer referral service that connects people with local attorneys, often for a low-cost initial consultation. Several California law schools run legal clinics staffed by supervised students, which can be another low-cost option for straightforward matters. And for small claims and some other court matters, self-representation is common and the courts publish their own guides for people going it alone.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws change and every case is different — talk to a licensed California attorney about your situation.