Los Angeles · Criminal Defense Guide
Someone held after an arrest in Los Angeles County must see a judge within 48 hours, so the choice of lawyer is often made from a jail phone call. We compared three criminal defense attorneys in Los Angeles on State Bar licence records, the case types each firm actually lists, what each discloses about fees and consultations, and verified Google reviews, and set out who each one suits and where each falls short.
DJA Editorial · Legal Directory Research
Checked against state bar licensee records, court sources and public review platforms · Last updated September 2026
The short answer
Three firms, each leading for a different kind of Los Angeles criminal case. This is a shortlist rather than a ranking, and the firm in the top slot has the lowest Google rating of the three.
1
Kosnett Law Firm
Best for students and professionals whose case reaches beyond criminal court
2
Eisner Gorin LLP
Best for a felony, sex offense or federal matter still under investigation
3
The Rodriguez Law Group
Best for a homicide, sex crime or strike case likely to reach a jury
At a glance: Criminal Defense Attorneys in Los Angeles, compared
| Firm |
Best for |
Focus |
Bar record |
Fees |
Rating |
| Kosnett Law Firm |
Best for students and professionals whose case reaches beyond criminal court |
Misdemeanor, felony, DUI, Title IX, record sealing |
James Kosnett, CA #71542, admitted 1976 |
Not published, free case evaluation |
4.0 · 39 Google |
| Eisner Gorin LLP |
Best for a felony, sex offense or federal matter still under investigation |
Felony, federal, sex crime, white collar |
Alan Eisner, CA #127119; Dmitry Gorin, CA #178353 |
Paid consultation, retainer in advance |
4.9 · 113 Google, Century City listing |
| The Rodriguez Law Group |
Best for a homicide, sex crime or strike case likely to reach a jury |
Homicide, sex crimes, felony trials, juvenile |
Ambrosio Rodriguez, CA, admitted 1999 |
Not published, free consultation |
4.9 · 188 Google |
Criminal Defense in Los Angeles: the local picture
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Firms here that publish a fee
None of the three publishes a flat fee or retainer range for any charge. Kosnett and Rodriguez advertise a free first consultation; Eisner Gorin requires a retainer before a formal consultation. Bail is a separate cost: California bail agents usually keep 10% of the bail as a fee you never get back, even if charges are dropped.
48 hours
Until an in-custody arraignment
A person arrested and held must be brought before a judge within 48 hours, not counting Sundays and holidays. That first hearing is where charges are read, a plea is entered and release or bail is argued, so a lawyer retained before it can change what happens there. Once released, a missed court date usually brings a bench warrant.
$0
Cost of an appointed public defender
If you cannot afford a lawyer, ask the judge at arraignment to appoint the Los Angeles County Public Defender, which represents people charged with crimes who cannot pay for counsel. When it has a conflict, the county Alternate Public Defender steps in. Since 1 July 2021 California courts can no longer charge a registration fee or order repayment for appointed counsel.
What clients in Los Angeles say: Across the visible Google reviews for these three firms, the praise is less about courtroom drama than about being told plainly what to expect. Reviewers at Rodriguez and Eisner Gorin often name an associate rather than the name partner, which tells you who runs the file day to day. The complaints cluster around the first contact: two detailed Kosnett reviews describe consultations that felt rushed, and one Eisner Gorin reviewer objects to being billed for an email update. Ask who handles your case and what the first meeting costs before you book it.
How we chose these Criminal Defense Attorneys in Los Angeles
We looked at firms defending criminal cases in Los Angeles County courts, then compared them on things you can check yourself: the State Bar of California licence record for the named attorneys, the case types each firm actually lists rather than the ones it advertises, whether it discloses fees and consultation terms, where its offices are, and the visible client reviews on Google.
The three are a shortlist, not a ranking, and each leads for a different situation. Firm details come from each firm’s own site, cross checked against Google Business Profile listings, State Bar licensee records and public directories, and statute and court sources for the local figures. Bar details we could not confirm during this update are flagged on the page rather than filled in, and no case result appears here unless the firm publishes it, in which case it is labelled as the firm’s own claim.
1. Kosnett Law Firm
Best for students and professionals whose case reaches beyond criminal court
★★★★ 4.0 / 5 · Google · 39 reviews
The only firm here whose site builds out Title IX and campus discipline defense next to its criminal practice, along with DMV hearings and arrest record sealing. James Kosnett was admitted to the California bar in December 1976, the longest license record on this list, and Louis Kosnett has practiced criminal defense since 2014. If you need a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney for university hearings, DMV matters, or criminal charges, this is the practice set up for that overlap.
Identity and footprint
Main office11400 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90064
Phone310-445-5900 AttorneysJames V. Kosnett and Louis V. Kosnett; client testimonials also name John Alexander
Other officesIrvine, San Diego, Berkeley, San Francisco and Long Beach, listed as satellite offices
Related practicesThe Kosnett name also runs separate education law and personal injury sites
Practice and scope
Criminal pagesAssault and battery, domestic violence, first, second and felony DUI, drug and marijuana charges, firearms, theft, robbery and burglary, prostitution, misdemeanor and felony defense, federal defense
Beyond the courtroomDMV administrative hearings, Title IX defense, restraining ordersAfter a casePost conviction relief, probation termination and expungement, arrest record sealing
CourtsStates that it appears in state and federal courts across Southern California
Appellate historyJames Kosnett was lead attorney in Barnes v. Molino (1980), a Court of Appeal decision on whether the Fifth Amendment privilege lets a witness refuse a subpoena for business records
Credentials and licensing
James KosnettState Bar #71542, admitted 22 December 1976, status Active, no discipline shown Louis KosnettState Bar #299421, admitted 2014 per the firm
Federal admissionsJames: Central District of California 1976, Ninth Circuit 1978, U.S. Tax Court 1978. Louis: Central and Eastern Districts of California
EducationJames: Yale BA 1973, UCLA School of Law JD 1976. Louis: UC Davis BA, Southwestern Law School JD
Bar associationsLos Angeles County and Beverly Hills bar associations; Louis also lists NACDL and the San Fernando Valley Bar
RecognitionLouis Kosnett lists a 2023 Super Lawyers Rising Star selection. The firm’s own pages also state that James Kosnett was named to a Distinguished Justice Advocates list in 2023.
Fees and consultation
ConsultationAdvertised as a free case evaluation
AvailabilityGoogle listing shows the office as open 24 hours
What clients say
✓ Louis Kosnett credited on negotiation
✓ Moves fast on tight deadlines
✗ Two accounts of a poor consultation
· 4.0 across 39 reviews
Positive reviewers credit Louis Kosnett with grasping a case quickly and negotiating a better outcome than expected, and one describes the firm taking an urgent unemployment appeal on two or three days notice. Two detailed reviews describe consultations that felt rushed and dismissive, one saying the call came hours late. Those are individual accounts, but both concern the first conversation, so judge that call carefully.
Why they fit Los Angeles: The clearest fit when the criminal case is only part of the problem: a student facing a campus Title IX process, a driver fighting both a DUI charge and a DMV suspension, or someone who needs an old arrest sealed. James Kosnett’s licence runs back to 1976 with no discipline shown on the State Bar record. The caveats: its Google rating is the lowest of the three, the Kosnett name also covers education and injury work rather than criminal defense alone, and it publishes no fees. Ask which Kosnett will handle your file and appear in court.
2. Eisner Gorin LLP
Best for a felony, sex offense or federal matter still under investigation
★★★★½ 4.9 / 5 · Google, Century City listing · 113 reviews
Both partners are described as certified in criminal law by the State Bar’s Board of Legal Specialization, and between them they have worked both sides of the courtroom: Alan Eisner at the county public defender’s office from 1987 to 1992, Dmitry Gorin as a senior deputy district attorney for over a decade. Among these Los Angeles criminal defense lawyers, this firm leans hardest on pre-filing intervention, working to persuade prosecutors not to file charges at all, and it runs offices in Encino and Century City.
Identity and footprint
Valley headquarters16000 Ventura Blvd., Suite 1000, Encino, CA 91436
Century City office2121 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 800, Los Angeles, CA 90067 Phone818-781-1570 main line; the site also lists 310-328-3776 for Century City and a toll free number
Location noteThe homepage names Van Nuys in one place and Encino in another for the Valley office; the published address is Encino
AttorneysPartners Alan Eisner and Dmitry Gorin, associate Robert Hill
LanguagesEnglish, Spanish, Armenian and Russian
Practice and scope
Core workDescribes itself as exclusively a criminal defense practice
Pre-filing workA separate pre-filing intervention practice aimed at stopping charges before arraignment
Case typesDUI, drug, domestic violence, sex crimes, violent crimes, theft, white collar, federal, juvenile, probation violations, appeals and habeas petitions, expungement
Professional clientsSeparate pages for doctors, dentists, attorneys, law enforcement officers and school officials
Courts namedVan Nuys, San Fernando, Burbank, downtown Criminal Courts Building, Airport, Long Beach, Pasadena, Pomona and others, plus federal courts nationally
Firm claimsThe firm states nearly 100 cases were dismissed before filing and lists jury acquittals in murder and involuntary manslaughter cases. These are the firm’s own figures and cannot be checked independently.
Credentials and licensing
Alan EisnerState Bar #127119, status Active
Dmitry GorinState Bar #178353, status ActiveCertificationBoth partners described as certified in criminal law by the Board of Legal Specialization
BackgroundsEisner: LA County public defender 1987 to 1992, Loyola Law School JD 1985. Gorin: senior deputy district attorney, UCLA School of Law
Teaching and writingGorin lists adjunct teaching at Pepperdine law school and UCLA, and authorship for CEB’s California Criminal Law, Procedure and Practice
Shared addressGorin is also listed as of counsel at a separate personal injury firm that shares the Encino suite and main phone number
Fees and consultation
ConsultationPaid. The firm says formal consultations require a retainer in advance, set by time spent and the seriousness of the allegations
First callAdvertises a free immediate response by phone, 24 hours a day
Fee structureUpdatesOne reviewer describes paying a few hundred dollars for an emailed status update. One account, but ask how communication is billed.
What clients say
✓ Referring lawyers vouch for them
✓ Quick response, even on a Sunday
✓ Associate Robert Hill named
✗ One account of billing for an update
· Encino listing carries an unrelated injury review
A noticeable share of the praise comes from other lawyers who refer cases here, which is unusual on a consumer review page. Clients describe fast responses, one on a Sunday afternoon, and name associate Robert Hill alongside the partners. One reviewer objects to being billed for an email update. The Encino listing also holds a review about an injury case, which belongs to the separate practice at that address.
Why they fit Los Angeles: The strongest fit if you are under investigation for a felony, a sex offense or a federal matter and there may still be time to talk a prosecutor out of filing, and for professionals whose licence rides on the outcome. The trade off is cost and access: this is the only firm here that charges for a consultation, fees are unpublished, and one review describes paying for a routine update. Ask what the consultation retainer covers and how later communication is billed.
3. The Rodriguez Law Group
Best for a homicide, sex crime or strike case likely to reach a jury
★★★★½ 4.9 / 5 · Google · 188 reviews
Founder Ambrosio Rodriguez spent more than 13 years as a Los Angeles County prosecutor, leading a sex crimes unit and then trying homicide and death penalty cases, and the firm says he now handles its most serious trials himself. The office is on Wilshire Boulevard downtown, a short trip from the Criminal Courts Building that the firm’s published results name again and again. For anyone choosing a criminal defense lawyer in downtown Los Angeles on a charge that could end in front of a jury, that trial background is the point.
Identity and footprint
Office626 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 460, Los Angeles, CA 90017 Phone213-995-6767 on the website; the Google listing shows 213-463-1993
AttorneysAmbrosio E. Rodriguez, founding partner; Sommer Salam, managing partner; Joseph Kazazian, associate
LanguagesEnglish and Spanish, with a Spanish language section of the site
HoursGoogle listing shows the office as open 24 hours
Practice and scope
Core workStates it handles criminal defense only and does not take civil suits, divorce or traffic infractions
Case typesHomicide, assault, federal crimes, domestic violence, theft, sex crimes, drug crimes, DUI, expungement, juvenile
Division of labourRodriguez is described as lead trial attorney; Salam, a former prosecutor of over 8 years, as lead negotiator on pretrial motions and plea talks
Also seen in reviewsJuvenile cases, DCFS allegations, old bench warrants and restraining orders, mostly handled by Kazazian
Firm claimsThe firm lists a jury acquittal on first degree murder with gang allegations and a dismissed first degree murder case. These are the firm’s own results and cannot be checked independently.
Credentials and licensing
State BarAmbrosio Eduardo Rodriguez, bar #200880 as self reported to a legal directory
Admitted1999
EducationBates College BA 1992, Georgetown University Law Center JD 1997 Prosecution recordMore than 13 years as a senior deputy district attorney, including a sex crimes unit and the homicide unit
AssociationsCalifornia Attorneys for Criminal Justice; LA County Bar criminal justice section
Fees and consultation
ConsultationFree and confidential
PaymentCredit cards accepted
What clients say
✓ Largest review base here
✓ Honest early assessment
✓ Joseph Kazazian named most often
· Founder not always the daily contact
At 188 reviews this is the deepest record on the list, and the tone is consistent: clients describe honest early assessments and steady updates. The name that recurs most is associate Joseph Kazazian, across juvenile, DCFS, warrant and restraining order matters, more often than the founder. Reviews that name Rodriguez himself tend to involve serious allegations. Read that as a signal about who handles what.
Why they fit Los Angeles: The pick for a charge where trial is a real possibility and the case turns on how a jury hears sex crime or homicide evidence, because that is the work Rodriguez did as a prosecutor. The caveat sits in the reviews: many smaller matters are run by an associate, which may suit you but is worth knowing before you hire for the founder’s name. Fees are unpublished, and the Google listing shows a different phone number from the website. Ask in writing who will try the case.
What to check before hiring a Criminal Defense Attorney in Los Angeles
✓ Look up the licence yourself, it takes two minutes
The State Bar of California runs a free attorney search that shows licence number, admission date, current status and any public discipline. Search the individual lawyer who will handle your case, not the firm name. None of the three firms prints bar numbers on its own site.
✓ Ask what the first meeting costs before you book it
Two of the firms here advertise a free consultation and one requires a retainer first. Neither approach is wrong, but you should know which you are walking into, and what the paid version covers, before you hand over a card from a courthouse hallway.
✓ Get the fee in writing, stage by stage
California requires a written fee agreement when legal fees are expected to exceed $1,000. Ask whether the fee is flat or hourly, whether it covers the preliminary hearing and trial or only the early stages, and what investigators or outside consultants cost on top.
✓ Ask who will stand next to you in court
At two of these firms, the reviews show associates handling many files. That can work well, but ask for the name of the attorney who will appear at each hearing and what triggers the partner getting involved.
✓ If someone is in custody, the clock is already running
An in-custody defendant must see a judge within 48 hours, excluding Sundays and holidays. Hiring before that arraignment means a lawyer can argue release or bail at the first hearing. Until then, the person arrested should not discuss the case with police or on recorded jail phone lines.
Criminal Defense Attorneys in Los Angeles: frequently asked questions
How much does a criminal defense attorney cost in Los Angeles?
None of the three firms on this page publishes a fee, so the only honest answer is to ask for a written quote. Fees are usually flat per stage or hourly, and California requires a written agreement when fees will exceed $1,000. If you cannot afford private counsel, the Los Angeles County Public Defender represents qualifying defendants at no cost.
How soon will someone arrested in Los Angeles see a judge?
Within 48 hours of arrest, not counting Sundays and holidays, under California Penal Code 825. If the deadline falls when court is closed, it runs to the next court session. An arrest on a Wednesday evening must reach a judge by Friday, unless Friday is a court holiday.
Is a public defender really free in California?
Yes, for people the court finds cannot afford a lawyer. Since 1 July 2021, under AB 1869, California courts can no longer impose the public defender registration fee or order a defendant to repay the cost of appointed counsel. In Los Angeles, the Alternate Public Defender handles cases where the Public Defender has a conflict, typically co-defendants.
What does a bail bond cost in Los Angeles?
California bail agents usually charge 10% of the bail amount, though the Department of Insurance notes agents may discount that fee. The premium is not refunded, even if charges are dropped. Posting the full amount in cash with the court is refundable if every court date is kept, and a judge can also release someone on their own recognizance with no payment at all.
Can a felony charge be reduced to a misdemeanor?
For a wobbler, an offense California allows to be charged either way, yes. A defense lawyer can ask the judge to treat it as a misdemeanor under Penal Code 17(b), usually pointing to a clean record, restitution, treatment or work history. Reducing a charge before conviction generally helps more than expungement afterwards, which does not erase the conviction for licensing purposes.
How long do I have to appeal a conviction?
In a felony case, the notice of appeal is due within 60 days after the judgment or order being appealed. In a misdemeanor case, the deadline is 30 days. These deadlines are strict, so raise an appeal with the trial lawyer at sentencing rather than afterwards.
DJA Editorial
Legal Directory Research
Compiles Distinguished Justice Advocates city guides from state bar licensee records, court and statute sources, and publicly visible client reviews. Firms appear as a shortlist rather than a ranking. Figures a firm publishes about itself are labelled as such, and anything that could not be verified is flagged on the page rather than estimated.
