The fastest way to find a criminal defense lawyer near you is to identify the court handling your case first, then look for an office close to that courthouse, not just an office close to your home. The firm has offices across Southern, Central, and Northern California, and it takes calls for a free consultation 24/7.

Which court is actually handling your case?

Your citation, notice to appear, or summons names the court where your case will be heard, so start there before searching for an office.

A misdemeanor citation has to say where you need to show up. Penal Code 853.6 requires the officer who releases you on a written promise to appear to prepare a notice naming "the time when, and place where, the person shall appear in court." For a Vehicle Code citation, Vehicle Code 40500 requires the same thing: the officer writes down the offense and "the time and place when and where he or she shall appear." In a felony case where a summons is used instead of an arrest warrant, Penal Code 813 ties a later bench warrant to failing to appear "at the designated time and place," so that same summons paperwork is where the court and date are designated.

If you cannot find that paperwork, or you were booked and released without it, call the clerk's office at the courthouse named on whatever paperwork you do have, or call the agency that arrested or cited you. Do not guess which courthouse handles your case from the city where you live; many cities are served by a courthouse in a different city, or by one of several branches in the same county.

Where does the firm have an office near that courthouse?

Once you know the court, check the firm's location directory, which groups its offices into Southern, Central and Northern California regions.

The directory lists more than 100 locations. Examples from each region include the main office in North Hollywood, offices in the Central Valley such as Fresno and Bakersfield, and Northern California offices in San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, and Oakland, alongside dozens of Southern California offices. Each entry shows the contact details the firm has published for that location, in most cases a street address and a local phone number.

This directory only shows cities where the firm actually has a listed office. If the courthouse on your paperwork is not near one of those cities, that does not mean the firm cannot help. It means the next step is a phone consultation, and the directory says the firm can meet at your location when needed.

What if no office is close to that courthouse?

The firm's contact page invites a call for a free consultation 24/7, so distance between your courthouse and the nearest office need not delay a first conversation.

A lawyer who is not down the street from the courthouse can still appear there, review your paperwork, and talk with you by phone before any hearing.

What to bring and what to ask

Bring your citation, notice to appear, or any papers from the arrest, along with the date of your next court appearance if you have one.

The firm's guide to choosing a criminal defense lawyer covers the questions worth asking before you decide who will represent you, including experience with your type of charge and familiarity with the courthouse on your paperwork.

Frequently asked questions

Does "near me" mean the office closest to my house?

Not necessarily. The more useful distance is between an office and the courthouse handling your case, since that is where your lawyer needs to appear, not where you happen to live.

Can my lawyer go to court for me if I live far from the courthouse?

In a misdemeanor-only case, Penal Code 977(a)(1) generally lets you appear through your lawyer. In a domestic violence case you must be present for arraignment and sentencing, a judge may order you to attend in a DUI case, and a felony requires your presence at key hearings.

How do I find my court date if I lost my paperwork?

Contact the arresting agency or the courthouse clerk directly. Penal Code 853.6 requires the original notice to list the time and place to appear, but a lost copy does not cancel that date.

How soon should I call a lawyer after an arrest?

As soon as you can. A person held in custody must be taken before a judge within 48 hours, excluding Sundays and holidays (Penal Code 825), and a lawyer may visit someone in custody at that person's or a relative's request (Penal Code 825(b)).

Does the court handling my case ever change after it is filed?

A case can be transferred between courthouses or branches within a county in some situations. Ask your lawyer to confirm the current courthouse once a case is filed, since paperwork issued at arrest is not always the final word.

Is a lawyer who lives in my neighborhood always the right choice?

Not automatically. Familiarity with the specific courthouse and the type of charge you are facing matters more than a home address or a neighborhood office.

Talk to a lawyer

The Law Offices of David S. Chesley offers a free consultation, is available 24/7, and offers payment plans. Se habla español. Call (800) 755-5174 or use the contact page to start a conversation about your case and which office or consultation option fits it.