Los Angeles Lawyers

Lawyers have always been an important part of society, but as the economy of the world becomes more complex and demanding, the requirement and need for lawyers has been stronger than ever. As the most powerful nation in the world, the USA has some of the best lawyers in the world.

As a hub for much of the USA’s business and economy, it is no wonder that so many of the country’s top lawyers choose to live and work in Los Angeles. There are over 130,000 lawyers in California alone, making it only second behind the state of New York.

Students who are wanting to study to become a lawyer in Los Angeles have many options. Once they have completed a three-year bachelor degree, they must then gain a good score in the LSAT to be considered for a place at one of the city’s law schools. There are 20 law schools in the state of California approved by the American Bar Association. Four of these are located in Los Angeles - University of California at Los Angeles School of Law; Loyola Law School; Southwestern Law School; and the University of South California Gould School of Law. Entry into all of these schools is highly competitive. Once they have completed law school all future lawyers must sit and pass the California Bar exam that will make them qualified to practice law in California. If they want to practice law outside of California they must sit additional exams required by the state they are interested in.

With several thousand lawyers based in Los Angeles, the options can be overwhelming and choosing a suitable lawyer for your case can be a tough decision. Many lawyers offer general legal advice, whilst others specialize in certain areas of the law such as agriculture, family law, and business law to name just a few.

There are several ways you can go about beginning your search into finding a lawyer in Los Angeles. The best way to start is by speaking to friends, family and business colleagues who may have personal recommendations for you. It also means that you can have first-hand information on lawyers rather than just reading recommendations from others that may be biased. If this is unsuccessful, it is still important to ask for references from any lawyer you are looking at hiring.

As well as hiring a lawyer for personal cases, with so many businesses being constantly set up in Los Angeles, the market for business-related lawyers is immense. It is almost a necessity in starting up and maintaining a business, as any legal discrepancies can cost companies millions of dollars and can often lead to bankruptcy.

In the 2008 Best Lawyers in America list, which is one of the most respected guides to the top lawyers in the country, several Los Angeles based lawyers were ranked highly. Lawyers are divided into their specialty areas. Outlined below are just a few of the many top rating lawyers in Los Angeles.

In the area of health care law, Timothy P. Blanchard was voted as one of the best in his area of the law. Blanchard went to college at Oklahoma State University before completing law school at St. Louis University and being admitted to the California State Bar in 1986. Since then he has become renowned and respected in several areas of the legal profession including: health care; Medicare and Medicaid; and the false claims act.

Another top lawyer in Los Angeles is Jonathon C. Lurie who is recognized for his work in the area of trusts and estates. Lurie is originally from South Africa but became licensed in California in 1979. Since then he has made a name for himself in the areas of: estate planning law; probate law; trust law; and international estate planning.

If you are looking for someone to defend you in a case relating to white-collar criminal defense, Los Angeles lawyer James L. Sanders is one of the best in the business. Sanders attended Drake University before graduating from the University of Tulsa Law School and was admitted to the state bar of Illinois in 1974, then the state bar of California in 1986. As well as white collar criminal defense, he is also renowned for his expertise in the areas of: SEC enforcement, securities litigation, and environmental defense.

There are plenty more fantastic lawyers in Los Angeles, and you will be spoilt for choice when you start your search. All lawyers in California, and indeed in America, are very well qualified, but finding the right lawyer for you and your case is the key to success.