I thought this topic needed to be addressed because I'm seeing people repeatedly hire an alleged great defense attorney for a criminal case they have pending in Los Angeles County.

However, as it often turns out, number one, they don't even know who they're hiring.  I was just talking to someone who was crying because their son was in horrible trouble and they had hired an attorney, and I said to them, who did you hire?  They don't even know who they hired. Some of these attorneys are:

• posting advertisements on the internet,
• putting their face on there and maybe their credentials, but
• those attorneys are not even handling any cases.

Mill Law Firms

These so-called “mill firms”  Are a red flag. The attorneys working there, in most cases, have never set foot inside a courtroom, let alone handled a case.

They're putting a bunch of information on there about themselves, and they're not the ones handling the case.

All that happens is you call in, you get a person who ropes you in and who is just answering calls, and then you don't even know who your attorney is.

You think you're hiring a great, experienced attorney when, in reality, you're hiring a young new attorney who knows nothing about criminal defense.

Case Example

I was in court the other day, and I was watching this young attorney who didn't know what he was doing on a criminal case. He was stumbling over his words, didn't know what to say, while the poor defendant was sitting in there, visibly distressed.

When it came time to fill out the waiver forms to plead guilty, this attorney didn't even know how to do it, so he had the prosecutor fill it out. Wonderful!

That's perfect for the client—and I'm being sarcastic right now! The defense attorney needs to take command of the case.

This attorney was just filling in for some other attorney at the most critical point of the defense in a criminal case, during the plea in the case.

So, don't be tricked by these attorneys who are advertising.  They're not actually doing the cases.  As soon as you hear that somebody else is going to be dealing with your case, that's a problem. Instead, take the time to research and choose a reputable law firm like the Hedding Law Firm.

Hedding Law Firm Has Decades of Experience in Los Angeles

In my firm, for example, I'm Ronald D. Hedding.  My father is Ronald W. Hedding and then I have an associate who works with us.  All of us handle these cases. We've been:

• practicing each for over 25 years, and
• we have a lot of experience handling criminal defense cases,
• we're the ones who handle the cases.

Even in an emergency situation where you had to get somebody to stand in for you, you just continue the case, but you don't try to enter a plea on behalf of the client.

So, make sure that whoever you're hiring is actually in business, going to court, taking care of the case, and is responsible for your case.

If you hire the Hedding Law Firm, Ron D. Hedding is going to be responsible, ultimately, for the outcome of your case.

Even though my father might work on the case, my associate, Brian Smith, may work on the case. We're all working together as a team, and we all have a lot of experience in criminal defense.

That's what you've got to have.  You can't be in a circumstance where your case is handed over to some young attorney who doesn't know what they're doing and is going to put you in a bad position.

I can't tell you how many cases I've taken over because other attorneys didn't keep their clients informed, didn't know what they were doing, and basically, the client realized in the middle of the representation that their attorney wasn't helping them and had been tricked.

Do Your Homework Before Retaining a Lawyer

Don't fall prey to this.  Just because somebody has advertising dollars doesn't mean they know what they're doing.  The two do not equate. Some great attorneys are advertising — like myself and other defense attorneys

It's crucial to do your homework. Ensure the attorneys you're considering have the necessary experience, competence, and are actively practicing in the criminal courts of Los Angeles County.

If you or a loved one needs a great criminal defense attorney with extensive experience who has practiced in Los Angeles County since the early 1990s, pick up the phone.

Ask for a meeting with Ron Hedding.  I stand at the ready to help you. Hedding Law Firm is a criminal defense law firm located in Los Angeles County at 16000 Ventura Blvd #1208 Encino, CA 91436.

We represent clients in Southern California courts, including those in LA, Orange, Ventura, Hollywood, Santa Monica, Riverside, and San Bernardino. Contact us for a free case evaluation at (213) 542-0979.