Find a Lawyer in Los Angeles

Personal injury: Contingency (25-40% of settlement) — you pay nothing upfront.
Family law: $350-$700/hour. Contested divorce: $15,000-$50,000+.
Criminal defense: Misdemeanor: $2,500-$10,000. Felony: $10,000-$75,000+.
Entertainment law: $400-$1,000/hour for contract negotiation.
Immigration: Green card: $3,000-$6,000. Deportation defense: $5,000-$15,000.

Many LA attorneys offer free initial consultations. For low-income residents, LAFLA provides free services if you earn under 125% FPL (~$41,250/yr).

🎬 Entertainment industry: LA is the world's entertainment capital. Contract disputes, IP litigation, talent representation, residual payment claims, and guild/union issues are extremely common.

🚗 Traffic accidents: 54,000+ injury collisions per year. LA's notorious traffic (I-405, I-10, 101) leads to thousands of car accident claims annually.

🏠 Housing crisis: Median rent over $2,800/month creates intense landlord-tenant disputes. LA's Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO) covers 624,000+ units.

🛂 Immigration: 3.5M+ immigrants in LA County. Second largest immigration court in the US — high demand for asylum, DACA, and deportation defense.

⚖️ Court volume: 2M+ filings per year — busiest court system in the nation. Cases often take 12-18 months to reach trial.

✅ Handle yourself:
• Small claims under $12,500
• Security deposit disputes (use our demand letter generator)
• Simple demand letters for refunds or payments
• Traffic tickets (unless CDL at risk)
• Uncontested divorce with no kids or assets

⚠️ Hire a lawyer:
• Personal injury with medical bills over $5,000
• Any criminal charges (especially felonies)
• Child custody disputes
• Immigration proceedings (deportation risk)
• Entertainment contracts (SAG, WGA, DGA)
• Anything over $25,000 at stake

Take our free 2-minute assessment to find out if you need an attorney.

1. Bar referral services: LA County Bar Lawyer Referral provides vetted attorney matches by practice area.

2. Verify their license: Use the California State Bar website to check discipline history.

3. Check reviews: Avvo, Google, Yelp, and Martindale-Hubbell ratings. Look for patterns, not just star counts.

4. Free legal aid: If income-qualified: LAFLA, Bet Tzedek, Public Counsel.

5. Interview 2-3 lawyers: Most offer free consultations. Ask about their experience with your specific issue, their strategy, and total expected costs.

Yes — LA has strong rent control.

LA Rent Stabilization Ordinance (RSO):
• Covers buildings built before October 1, 1978 with 2+ units
• 624,000+ units covered in LA
• Annual rent increases capped at 3-8% (set yearly by LA Housing Department)
• Requires "just cause" for eviction

California AB 1482 (statewide):
• Covers buildings 15+ years old not covered by RSO
• Rent increases capped at 5% + local CPI (max 10%)
• Also requires just cause for eviction

Exempt from both: Single-family homes (unless owned by corporations), condos, buildings less than 15 years old, owner-occupied duplexes.

LA County has 50+ courthouses — the largest court system in the nation. Your courthouse depends on case type and location:

Downtown LA:
• Stanley Mosk (111 N Hill St) — Civil, Family, Probate
• Clara Shortridge Foltz (210 W Temple St) — Criminal
• Spring Street (312 N Spring St) — Civil

Regional courthouses:
• Van Nuys — San Fernando Valley
• Santa Monica — Westside
• Pasadena — Northeast LA, San Gabriel Valley
• Torrance — South Bay
• Compton — South LA

Use the LA Court's online locator to find the right courthouse for your zip code and case type.