Looking for Family Law Attorney in CA/LA Area

[amirm]

A friend is asking for help in a family matter. He lives in Los Angeles area. Would appreciate a private message if you are a practicing family law attorney in California/LA area (or know someone who is).

Thanks!

 

[amirm]

I guess we identified one occupation that is under-represented at ASR!

 

[GD Fan]

Or maybe only happy families here? That's my hope.

 

[Zgrado1970]

It’s not my jurisdiction, so I can’t help you. I do recommend that you get a referral from another attorney (does not have to be a family law practitioner) who practices in the same County.

 

[Blumlein 88]

It’s not my jurisdiction, so I can’t help you. I do recommend that you get a referral from another attorney (does not have to be a family law practitioner) who practices in the same County.

I know a couple of attorney's and this is always the advice they give. Find an attorney in the county, and ask them who is good for your needs. Doesn't hurt to try a couple of them. See who they suggest.

 

[amirm]

Thank you all. It is indeed a zoo out there trying to google and find someone. I know attorneys in other areas but not in LA.

 

[Alice of Old Vincennes]

Don't rely on Internet. Ask a court reporter or bailiff. They will know. They see them all. I creased domestic representation 20 years ago. Still receive requests to this day. Only legal issue worse is a property line dispute.

 

[Zgrado1970]

Thank you all. It is indeed a zoo out there trying to google and find someone. I know attorneys in other areas but not in LA.

If you know any big firm partners (big firm as in having a multi-state presence) or corp counsel folks in your area, ask if they know anyone in LA/SoCal. I have referred cases out of state this way.

As others have said, it is a lot of legwork, but necessary. Also, for a family law matter, ask questions about billing practices. Specifically, you want to know who in the firm can bill to a file, what they charge, and how (e.g. does their policy allow an associate to bill a minimum 1 hour for a court appearance lasting 5 minutes, or do they bill “paralegal time”). Unless it is a “big” case (large asset divorce with a closely held business, or custody with domestic violence) there is probably no reason for your lawyer to have a team working your file. Google “Jeffery M. Leving billing complaint” to see what can happen when you choose your lawyer from advertising and a slick sales pitch.

 

[Gary_G]

Only legal issue worse is a property line dispute.

As a surveyor I completely agree!

 

[Zgrado1970]

As a surveyor I completely agree!

From the attorney’s perspective, the opposite is true. A “property line dispute” either involves the State and insurance companies (zoning or eminent domain) or two mentally unstable neighbors, who are willing to spend $$$ on the “principal of the thing.” Either way, the lawyer gets paid.

And there are no allegations of battery, attempted murder, rape or child sexual abuse. If you think people get crazy about fences, wait until you try to evict an abusive spouse, or make a guy pay child support for a kid he doesn’t see because he is a violent p.o.s.

 

[Alice of Old Vincennes]

From the attorney’s perspective, the opposite is true. A “property line dispute” either involves the State and insurance companies (zoning or eminent domain) or two mentally unstable neighbors, who are willing to spend $$$ on the “principal of the thing.” Either way, the lawyer gets paid.

And there are no allegations of battery, attempted murder, rape or child sexual abuse. If you think people get crazy about fences, wait until you try to evict an abusive spouse, or make a guy pay child support for a kid he doesn’t see because he is a violent p.o.s.

I was IV D prosecutor decades ago. Received more threats collecting child support than prosecuting serious felonies. I was trapped in a bathroom at a hotel by a payor just released from 30 day stint for contempt. He was about 6' 3" and 230 lbs. I was able to talk him down but was scary experience. Years later I represented him privately until his death.

 

[amirm]

If you know any big firm partners (big firm as in having a multi-state presence) or corp counsel folks in your area, ask if they know anyone in LA/SoCal. I have referred cases out of state this way.

I have used them in such capacity as well. But not for family matters. I assumed their network wouldn't extend to such practice.

 

[Zgrado1970]

I have used them in such capacity as well. But not for family matters. I assumed their network wouldn't extend to such practice.

Their network will include people who know (or know of) the lawyers you want to talk to. The head of the tax, environmental, or banking group of the LA office of your big firm knows, at the least, the top names. But they will probably have a referral list for matters outside the scope of the firm’s practice. They have to have such a list for when a valued client calls after they get arrested or served with divorce papers. And someone in their firm is likely married to, or previously worked for, or went to law school with a good family law practitioner. For a personal referral, you may have to go through a few degrees of separation, but it’s worth the effort. I have been the second (or third) attorney on a case many times and the client always got their first attorney from a Google search (or back in the day, the phone book).

Sorry to write so much, but my profession’s bad reputation has always bothered me because it is often deserved by lousy divorce lawyers who overpromise and under-deliver. In my state, roughly half of disciplinary complaints are for family or criminal matters.

 

[J.M. Noble]

I hope you have a better experience with family law than I have over the last 15 years or so (estate matters). Unbelievable across-the-board bad experiences: incompetence, unprofessional behavior, predatory billing practices, you name it.

My friends in corporate law and personal injury look down on the whole practice area.

 

[Zgrado1970]

I hope you have a better experience with family law than I have over the last 15 years or so (estate matters). Unbelievable across-the-board bad experiences: incompetence, unprofessional behavior, predatory billing practices, you name it.

My friends in corporate law and personal injury look down on the whole practice area.

My experiences doing family law in private practice led me to close my solo practice, and go into legal aid about 15 years ago. I still do the work, but no high asset cases. And I don’t know what your PI friends are doing looking down on anybody.