Benefits of Hiring a Criminal Defense Attorney in Los Angeles
You got arrested in Los Angeles—DUI on the 101, drug possession at Venice Beach, assault charge from a bar fight in Downtown LA, theft from a retail store. You’re facing criminal charges. You have an arraignment coming up at LA County Superior Court. The court told you a public defender will be appointed if you can’t afford an attorney. You’re thinking: “Do I really need to hire a private criminal defense attorney? What will they actually DO for my case that’s worth the cost?” Thanks for visiting Spodek Law Group – a second generation law firm with over 50 years of combined experience. Our managing partner, Todd Spodek, has many, many, years of experience defending clients arrested in Los Angeles and appearing at LA County courthouses—Downtown Criminal Courts Building, Van Nuys, Pasadena. Todd has represented clients in high-profile cases covered by NY Post, Newsweek, and other national outlets – including Anna Delvey and juror misconduct allegations in the Ghislaine Maxwell trial. You need to understand what public defenders can’t do, what private attorneys actually DO for your case, and whether it’s worth the cost.
What Happens with Public Defender
The Sixth Amendment guarantees your right to counsel—meaning you have a constitutional right to an attorney when facing criminal charges. If you can’t afford an attorney, the court will appoint a public defender for you. This right was established in *Gideon v. Wainwright* (1963), which extended the Sixth Amendment right to counsel from federal prosecutions to state felony charges. LA County Public Defender is the largest in the nation—handling over 500,000 cases annually. That’s not a misprint: five hundred thousand cases per year, handled by a few hundred attorneys.
Each public defender in LA County handles 500+ active cases simultaneously. Fifteen minutes per case, on average. They can’t investigate your arrest. They can’t interview witnesses. They can’t hire expert witnesses—toxicologists for DUI, medical experts for assault, forensic accountants for fraud. No time to prepare Fourth Amendment suppression motions challenging illegal searches. You don’t choose which attorney gets assigned. If you have co-defendants, conflict of interest issues may prevent PD representation entirely.
Public defenders appear only at court hearings—arraignment, pre-trial, trial. Not available for calls or meetings outside court. *Strickland v. Washington* (1984) established “effective assistance of counsel” standard—PDs meet that constitutional minimum, but “effective” doesn’t mean “optimal.” PD strategy is driven by caseload: negotiate plea deal to close your case quickly, move on to the next 499 cases. No time to challenge prosecution evidence, file motions, or prepare for trial. This is your Sixth Amendment right—the minimum, not the maximum.
What Private Attorney Does
A private criminal defense attorney investigates your arrest circumstances from the beginning. They examine whether the police stop was legal under the Fourth Amendment—did LAPD have reasonable suspicion to pull you over for that DUI stop? Was the search of your car legal, or did they exceed the scope of a valid traffic stop? They review police reports for inconsistencies, missing information, or violations of your constitutional rights. They interview witnesses—alibi witnesses who can place you somewhere else when the alleged crime occurred, character witnesses who can testify to your reputation, witnesses who contradict the prosecution’s version of events. They hire expert witnesses when your case requires specialized knowledge: toxicologists who can challenge breathalyzer accuracy in DUI cases, medical experts who can testify about injury patterns in assault cases, forensic analysts who can challenge DNA evidence.
Private attorneys file suppression motions under the Fourth Amendment when police violated your rights. Example: you got stopped at a DUI checkpoint on the 101—was that checkpoint properly conducted under constitutional standards, or can your attorney argue the stop was illegal? Example: you got arrested for drug possession after police searched your car during a traffic stop—did they have probable cause to search, or did they exceed the scope of a valid stop? If the judge grants a suppression motion, all evidence from that illegal stop gets excluded from trial. Without that evidence, the prosecution often can’t proceed—your case gets dismissed entirely. Prosecutors know this risk exists before trial, which gives your attorney bargaining power during plea negotiations: “We’re prepared to file suppression motions and take this to trial unless you reduce charges.”
Unlike public defenders who handle 500 cases, a private attorney focuses on YOUR case. They know the specific LA County courthouses—Downtown Criminal Courts Building operates differently than Van Nuys Superior Court, which operates differently than Pasadena courthouse. They know the judges assigned to each courthouse and their sentencing philosophies. They know the deputy district attorneys who prosecute cases at each courthouse and what plea deals they typically offer. They understand local negotiation practices. They appear under California Penal Code § 977 for misdemeanor charges—meaning you don’t have to appear at court, they appear on your behalf while you stay at work. They’re available for calls and meetings outside court to explain the process, answer questions, and address concerns. This is your Fifth Amendment right in action: you don’t have to testify, you don’t have to accept the first plea offer, you have the right to make the prosecution prove their case.
Outcomes You Get
Private attorneys get charges reduced—felony to misdemeanor. Grand theft (felony) reduced to petty theft (misdemeanor). Possession with intent to sell (felony) reduced to simple possession (misdemeanor). Misdemeanors stay off professional background checks that screen for felonies only. This matters for doctors, nurses, teachers, lawyers, security clearances. Immigration: felony convictions create deportation risk for non-citizens, misdemeanors may not affect green cards. Employers ask “Have you been convicted of a felony?”—if your charge was reduced to misdemeanor, you answer “no.”
Private attorneys get cases dismissed through constitutional challenges. Fourth Amendment violations: illegal stop, illegal search—evidence suppressed, case dismissed. Fifth Amendment violations: coerced confession, Miranda warnings violated—statements suppressed, case dismissed. Insufficient evidence after suppression—prosecution can’t proceed, judge dismisses case. No conviction, no probation, clean record. DUI dismissed after checkpoint ruled unconstitutional. Drug possession dismissed after car search ruled illegal. This is the difference between a criminal record that follows you for life and walking away with nothing.
Private attorneys get you into diversion programs instead of convictions. LA County offers drug diversion, mental health court, veterans court. Complete the program—classes, counseling, community service—over 12-18 months, case dismissed entirely. Record shows “case dismissed,” not “convicted.” Probation instead of jail time for cases that can’t be dismissed or diverted. County jail replaced with house arrest, community service, fines. This matters if you have a job, children who depend on you, professional licenses at risk.
Cost versus value: LA attorney fees run $2,500-$5,000 for misdemeanors, $5,000-$15,000 for felonies. Is “$400 an hour” a lot for a lawyer? That’s standard for experienced LA attorneys. Compare: attorney cost ($5,000) versus conviction cost (criminal record means job loss, license suspension, deportation for non-citizens, inability to rent apartments). Public defenders are “free”—but no investigation, no motions, pressure to accept first plea. Unlike other law firms who charge hourly with no cap, Spodek Law Group offers flat fees with payment plans—you know costs upfront.
Then there’s the question of when hiring an attorney matters most. Serious felony charges with prison exposure—not just county jail, but state prison for years. Prior criminal record means sentencing enhancements under California’s Three Strikes Law—your second or third offense carries mandatory increased sentences. Professional licenses at stake: if you’re a doctor facing the Medical Board, a lawyer facing the State Bar, a nurse or teacher with a credential at risk—a conviction means license suspension or revocation. Immigration consequences: if you’re a non-citizen, certain convictions are “aggravated felonies” under federal law that trigger mandatory deportation. Multiple charges or co-defendants create conflict of interest issues—public defender can’t represent you if they’re already representing your co-defendant.
You’re worried about cost—how much does a criminal defense attorney cost? But the cost of conviction exceeds the cost of an attorney. Criminal record follows you: job applications ask about convictions, professional licensing boards suspend credentials, landlords reject rental applications, immigration authorities initiate deportation proceedings. Unlike other law firms who treat all LA County courthouses the same and send whoever is available, Spodek Law Group has many, many, years of experience specifically at Downtown Criminal Courts Building, Van Nuys Superior Court, Pasadena courthouse. We’ve represented clients arrested for DUI (case dismissed after checkpoint challenge), drug possession (reduced to infraction through Fourth Amendment motion), assault charges (reduced to disturbing the peace), theft cases (diverted to classes, case dismissed). We understand how to negotiate with the specific deputy DAs assigned to each courthouse, how to challenge LAPD arrest procedures, and how to appear under Penal Code § 977 so you never miss work for court dates. Call us. 212-300-5196.