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2024

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Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Mission Viejo, CA

Our Recommended Top 9

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Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Mission Viejo Criminal Defense Lawyers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

79Reviewed

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9Top Picks

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Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

23151 Moulton Parkway, Laguna Hills, CA 92653
WebsiteLicense: 139121

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (50)
Yelp
5.0 (8)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Stull & Stull offers legal representation to clients facing criminal charges in Mission Viejo, Laguna Hills, and the rest of the surrounding Orange County areas. The firm focuses on three main practice areas which are DUI defense, drug defense, and expungement. The firm also works on matters related to Proposition 47 resentencing and alternatives to jail time. The lawyers at the firm have more than 45 years of collective criminal trial experience.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Adam Stull - PartnerActive35 yrs

28202 Cabot Rd, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Yelp
4.9 (30)
Avvo
4.8 (18)
Google
5.0 (7)

Why choose this provider?

The criminal defense attorney at the Law Office of Jeffrey N. Stivers provides legal representation to clients in Mission Viejo. Established in 2001, the law firm assists clients in various criminal law matters including assaults, parole and probation, expungements, traffic violations, and misdemeanor and felony defense. It advocates for clients' rights and helps them navigate through the complex legal justice system. The defense attorney offers consultation services. Stivers also handles divorce, child custody, and child support cases.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Jeffrey Stivers - PrincipalActive24 yrs

361 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
4.8 (34)
Facebook
5.0 (3)

Why choose this provider?

Moore Law for Children, A Professional Corporation is a law firm that provides counsel and legal guidance to parents across the Mission Viejo area. It protects the future of minors who have found themselves in sticky legal situations, including possession of a controlled substance, drug paraphernalia possession, underage drinking, and driving without a license. The firm represents children in courts of law and in school disciplinary hearings. Founder and Director Meldie Moore has been named a Diligent Prosecutor by MADD.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Meldie Moore - Founder and DirectorActive30 yrs
Monica Schutt - PartnerActive8 yrs

16520 Bake Parkway, Irvine, CA 92618

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.9 (35)

Why choose this provider?

Ron Cordova, Attorney at Law is a California law firm that provides legal services to residents of Mission Viejo. It is founded by Ron Cordova who is a criminal defense lawyer with more than 40 years of experience. The firm accepts criminal defense cases of various areas, including federal, narcotics, theft and property offenses, DUI, and violent crimes. Cordova has been named by OC Metro Magazine as one of Orange County's top criminal defense lawyers every year since 2009.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Ronald Cordova - PrincipalActive52 yrs

23152 Verdugo Drive Ste 201, Laguna Hills, CA 92653

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
5.0 (11)
Facebook
5.0 (3)

Why choose this provider?

The Office of The SoCal Law Network provides legal services to the communities in Mission Viejo. With over 50 years of combined experience, its attorneys advocate for the rights of clients arrested for assault and battery, drug possession, domestic violence, kidnapping, and theft charges. They create a defense strategy and build a solid case for individuals accused of white-collar, sex, and internet crimes. The firm also works on juvenile, felony, murder, and traffic violation cases.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Alan Castillo - CEO & Senior Trial LawyerActive30 yrs
Alan Castillo - PrincipalActive30 yrs
Peter Iocona - CFO & Lead Trial LawyerActive18 yrs

22342 Avenida Empresa, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Google
4.7 (3)

Why choose this provider?

Serving clients near Mission Viejo, Brown & Stedman LLP is a law firm whose attorneys have more than six decades of collective legal experience representing clients in their criminal defense cases. The firm offers personalized and tailored representation and handles white collar cases, DUIs, drug offenses, homicides, and domestic violence, to name a few. Beyond criminal law, Brown & Stedman LLP also assists in immigration law and represents clients in various civil matters such as personal injury and appeals.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Edwin Brown - PartnerActive45 yrs

26161 Marguerite Parkway, Suite B, Mission Viejo, CA

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (17)
Google
4.7 (12)
Yelp
2.6 (5)

Why choose this provider?

Hush Law Firm is a criminal defense practice that serves clients in the Mission Viejo area. It advocates on behalf of individuals who have been charged for misdemeanor and felony offenses, including drug possession, drug paraphernalia, DUI, homicide, DWI, and domestic violence. The firm defends clients charged on the federal level, including kidnapping, interstate drug trafficking, and murder. Lead attorney Dyke Huish has handled more than 8,000 criminal law cases and has participated in over 300 jury and bench trials.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Dyke Huish - PrincipalActive31 yrs

28202 Cabot Road, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Facebook
5.0 (4)
Yelp
5.0 (3)

Why choose this provider?

The Law Offices of Meghan Blanco is a criminal defense law firm serving the Mission Viejo area. Practicing law for more than a decade, former federal prosecutor Blanco uses her experience to assist individuals accused of felonies and misdemeanors, including white-collar crimes, conspiracy, homicide, domestic violence, theft, and drug possession. The firm also uses Prop 47 to knock felony convictions down to misdemeanors. Meghan Blanco, a criminal lawyer near Mission Viejo, received the Public Counsel Law Center's Outstanding Advocate Award.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Meghan Blanco - PrincipalActive19 yrs

22982 La Cadena Dr #201, Laguna Beach, CA 92653

Expertise.com Rating

Review Sources

Avvo
5.0 (39)
Yelp
4.6 (9)
Google
5.0 (5)

Why choose this provider?

Alan Castillo - Attorney at Law is dedicated to providing legal solutions throughout Mission Viejo and other areas. Its team of professionals handles criminal defense cases, including domestic violence, fraud and embezzlement, assault and battery, DUI, and drug crimes. Its attorneys also offer legal assistance to individuals who are professionally licensed, such as psychologists, nurses, doctors, pharmacists, and radiologists. The firm's lawyer, Alan Castillo, is a former public defender who was recognized by National Trial Lawyers as one of the top 100 trial lawyers.

Attorney Information

Attorney NameBar StatusExperience
Alan Castillo - PrincipalActive30 yrs

Compare our Top Criminal Defense Lawyers

NameExpertise RatingAddressPromotionsLearn more
Law Offices of Stull & Stull
23151 Moulton Parkway, Laguna Hills, CA 92653
The Law Offices of Jeffrey N Stivers
28202 Cabot Rd, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
Moore Law for Children, A Professional Corporation
361 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Ron Cordova, Attorney at Law
16520 Bake Parkway, Irvine, CA 92618
The SoCal Law Network
23152 Verdugo Drive Ste 201, Laguna Hills, CA 92653
Brown & Stedman LLP
22342 Avenida Empresa, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
Huish Law Firm
26161 Marguerite Parkway, Suite B, Mission Viejo, CA
Law Offices of Meghan Blanco
28202 Cabot Road, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
Alan Castillo - Attorney at Law
22982 La Cadena Dr #201, Laguna Beach, CA 92653

Disclaimer:  Consumers utilizing Expertise.com are free to communicate and contract with any lawyer they choose. Expertise.com is not involved in the confidential attorney-client relationship. Featured lawyers pay a reasonable advertising cost to market their legal services with Expertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Mission Viejo, CA Criminal Defense FAQs

  • What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Mission Viejo, California?

    The non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Mission Viejo is (949) 770-6011.

  • Where can I get a copy of police reports for incidents related to my case in Mission Viejo, California?

    You can get a copy of the police report related to your case in Mission Viejo by completing the Request Authorization for Release of Case Information form, which can be downloaded from https://www.ocsheriff.gov/commands-divisions/professional-services-command/records/information-management/report-request. Once accomplished, email your request to reportrequest@ocsheriff.gov. You may also submit a request through fax (714-834-5466), U.S. mail (P.O. Box 449, Santa Ana, CA 92702), or in person (Records Division in Santa Ana.)

  • What happens if you get charged with a DUI with a suspended license in Mission Viejo?

    If you get charged with a DUI with a suspended license in Mission Viejo, the prosecutor holding your case will attempt to prove that:

    • you were operating a motor vehicle;
    • you were under the influence of alcohol;
    • you were driving with a suspended license; and
    • you knew that the license was suspended. If found guilty, you may face consequences that include probation of at least three years, a fine of over $2,000, mandatory attendance to an alcohol recovery school, imprisonment up to 180 days, and two points added to your driving record.
  • Would a domestic violence conviction in Mission Viejo affect a person’s future employment opportunities?

    Yes, it would, especially if the person with a past domestic violence conviction is pursuing a career in public service. This sector includes jobs like teaching, law enforcement, healthcare, government service, and other roles that entail working with vulnerable demographics. Fortunately, a law effective since 2018 gives convicted people in Mission Viejo a fair chance at securing a job based on competence without being rejected instantly because of their criminal record. The law is called the Fair Chance Act, also known as Ban the Box law.

  • How does the Fair Chance Act or Ban the Box Law affect the employment opportunities of convicted people in Mission Viejo?

    The Fair Chance Act gives convicted people in Mission Viejo the opportunity to have gainful employment. The law prohibits public and private employers with five or more employees to:

    • ask about a person’s conviction history during the initial phase of the job application;
    • consider a person’s criminal history before a conditional job offer; and
    • retract a job offer without taking into account the gravity of a conviction, the time that has elapsed since the conviction, and the nature of the job the person is seeking.
  • Is selling cannabis in Mission Viejo illegal?

    Yes, it is illegal to sell cannabis in Mission Viejo. In Orange County, only Santa Ana has state-approved dispensaries and recreational shops where adults 21 years and older can buy cannabis products. Recreational consumers can purchase up to 28.5 grams of cannabis flower and no more than eight grams of cannabis concentrate products. On the other hand, medical patients can buy up to 8 ounces of cannabis flower daily.

  • How long does a defendant have to file a notice of appeal in a criminal case in Mission Viejo?

    Criminal defendants convicted for felonies in Mission Viejo have 60 days from the judgment date to file a notice of appeal, while criminal defendants convicted for misdemeanors have 30 days. Exceptions can be given if there's proof of mental incompetence or physical incapacity. Failure to do so within the timeframe can result in the loss of the right to appeal.