How it works and costs

Talk first.
Then decide.

The free first call

In a free first call our intake team listens to your questions about criminal defense, clarifies what you need and connects you with an independent attorney licensed in California. The call is free and without obligation.

Working with an attorney

If you want an attorney to take on your matter, the attorney explains the scope of the work and quotes a fee, usually a flat fee, in a written engagement agreement before any work starts. You pay the attorney for legal services. Court, agency and filing fees are separate and are not covered by the free first call.

Who does what

First Call Defense is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. We run the website and the intake, and we pass your request to an independent attorney. Each attorney is solely responsible for the legal services they provide.

What your request does

Your request reaches our intake team, who get in touch to clarify it and arrange the call. Sending the form does not book a binding appointment, does not create an attorney-client relationship and does not oblige you to pay anything.

Deadlines and urgent matters

A request does not stop or extend any deadline, hearing date or filing window. If your matter is urgent, do not wait for a reply through this form. This is not an emergency service.

This form is not an emergency line. If someone is in custody or has a court date tomorrow, contact the court, the public defender's office or a criminal defense attorney directly now. An enquiry does not stop any deadline.