It depends on your circumstances, and we will tell you honestly. Public defenders in Orange County are genuinely very effective and capable lawyers, but they carry very heavy caseloads. A private attorney can begin work before charges are even filed, spend time on suppression motions and mitigation, and be reachable when you need answers. If you truly cannot afford private counsel, a public defender is your best option, and we will say so.

Yes. The consultation is free and everything you tell us is confidential and protected by the attorney-client privilege, whether or not you hire the firm. You can describe what happened openly, which matters because we can only defend against a problem we know about. Please confirm the length and format of the free consultation you want described here.

Bring any paperwork you have and do not delay the meeting to collect more. The most useful items are the citation, complaint or booking paperwork, any bail documents, the police report if you have it, the date and department of your next court appearance, and the names of any officers involved. Also bring a written account of what happened while it is fresh, and a list of any witnesses. If you have nothing, come anyway.

Yes. Mr. Gutierrez is the founder and handles the firm’s cases personally, which is one reason the practice stays small enough to give each client real attention. Staff assist with scheduling and documents, but the strategy, the negotiation and the court appearances stay with your attorney. Please confirm how you would like the involvement of Mr. Gutierrez and any other attorneys described.

No. Officers are trained to build a case, and the belief that explaining yourself will clear things up is the most common and most costly mistake people make. You have an absolute right to remain silent and to counsel, and invoking it cannot be used against you at trial. Say clearly that you are exercising your right to remain silent and want a lawyer, then stop talking, and call us before any further contact.

Very likely yes. A misdemeanor conviction still creates a criminal record that appears on background checks, and can affect employment, professional licensing, immigration status, firearm rights and custody, none of which is obvious from the charge itself. Many charges that look minor also carry diversion or dismissal opportunities that are easy to miss without counsel. The consultation is free, so at minimum find out what you are actually facing before you plead to anything.