Los Angeles County Criminal Defense
Los Angeles Criminal Defense Lawyer
Free phone consultations 24/7/365. Payment plans available.
Los Angeles County runs the largest criminal court system in the United States. Cases move through dozens of courthouses, each with its own judges, prosecutors, and unwritten rules. The difference between a lawyer who knows the building and one who does not shows up in every hearing.
Farris Law Firm defends clients across Los Angeles from our Burbank office, with founding attorney Charles Farris bringing experience from thousands of misdemeanor and felony cases throughout LA County.
One Firm for the Whole LA County Court System
Where your case is heard matters. The same charge can play out very differently at the Foltz building downtown, the Metropolitan Courthouse, or a branch court in the Valley, because filing policies and courtroom culture differ. We know these differences because we work these courts constantly from our Burbank office, and we use them: choosing when to negotiate, when to file motions, and when to push to trial based on where the case actually sits.
We defend the full range of charges across Los Angeles: DUI, domestic violence, assault, theft and robbery, drug offenses, weapons charges, and vandalism, along with bench warrant recalls and expungements for old cases. If your matter is in the San Fernando Valley, see our dedicated pages for Burbank, Van Nuys, Glendale, and San Fernando.
Los Angeles Criminal Defense FAQs
Which courthouse will my Los Angeles case be in?
It depends on where the alleged offense occurred and its severity. Serious felonies from across the city often go to the Foltz Criminal Justice Center downtown, while misdemeanors are typically heard at the Metropolitan Courthouse or a regional branch. Read your citation or release paperwork to us during a free call and we will tell you exactly where and when to appear, or whether we can appear for you.
How is the LA City Attorney different from the District Attorney?
In the city of Los Angeles, misdemeanors are prosecuted by the City Attorney while felonies are handled by the LA County District Attorney. They have different policies on diversion, reductions, and dismissals, and an effective defense strategy accounts for who is on the other side of the table.
Do you handle pre-filing representation in LA?
Yes, and it is some of the most valuable work we do. If detectives are calling you or you have been told a case is under review, we intervene before charges are filed, presenting evidence and context that can lead to no filing at all. A case that never gets filed needs no defense and leaves no record.
Can old Los Angeles convictions be cleared?
Most convictions where probation was completed can be expunged under Penal Code 1203.4, and many arrest records can be sealed. We handle expungements throughout LA County; see our expungement page and our guide on how long the process takes.
Facing charges in Los Angeles? Talk to a defense attorney tonight.
Free, confidential phone consultation any hour, any day. Payment plans available.