Charged in Riverside County? These 10 defense firms try cases at the Hall of Justice and the Larson Justice Center.
Riverside criminal cases are heard in the Riverside County Superior Court — the Hall of Justice at 4100 Main Street for downtown matters and the Larson Justice Center in the historic courthouse district. California sets a one-year statute of limitations for most misdemeanors and three years for most felonies (Penal Code 801–802). The Riverside County District Attorney is one of the more aggressive in the state, so the right lawyer's trial record matters.
Riverside is its own courthouse culture. The Riverside County District Attorney's office charges hard and the local bench runs a busy, fast-moving felony calendar. The right Riverside defense lawyer knows the individual judges, the deputy DAs by name, and which deputies will negotiate and which will not.
Below are 10 of the most respected criminal defense firms serving Riverside and the wider Inland Empire — from board-certified specialists and former prosecutors to trial-heavy boutiques that take the cases other lawyers settle.
How we picked these 10: We cross-referenced peer rankings and public directories — Super Lawyers, Avvo, Justia, Martindale-Hubbell, Expertise.com and FindLaw — along with State Bar specialty certifications and published client reviews. Firms that appeared across at least two independent sources made the list. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
Practice focus: Felonies, DUI, violent crime, white-collar, appeals
Paul Grech is a California State Bar Certified Criminal Law Specialist selected to Super Lawyers every year since 2013. He has been named to the Top 100 Trial Lawyers and designated a Trial Master by the American Inns of Court.
Practice focus: DUI, drug crimes, violent crime, sex offenses, expungement
More than 40 years defending Southern California clients, with an Avvo 10/10 rating and an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. The firm staffs every Riverside County courthouse.
Practice focus: Misdemeanors to life-count felonies, DUI, juvenile
Founder Kia Feyzjou is a California Board-Certified Criminal Law Specialist — a credential held by a small fraction of California attorneys — and handles everything from low-level misdemeanors to high-exposure felony counts.
Practice focus: Felonies, misdemeanors, juvenile, DUI
An award-winning defense lawyer who devotes 100% of his practice to criminal defense and has handled thousands of felony, misdemeanor, and juvenile matters in Riverside County and across California.
Practice focus: Assault, battery, kidnapping, manslaughter, DUI
Serves Riverside and neighboring communities with aggressive representation for individuals facing serious felony and misdemeanor charges.
Practice focus: Jury trials, felonies, DUI
David E. Wohl's career spans more than 27 years, including over 65 jury trials and hundreds of bench trials — a deep trial record for cases headed past the plea stage.
Practice focus: DUI, domestic violence, drug crimes
A Riverside defense team handling DUI, domestic violence, and drug charges throughout the Inland Empire, with bilingual intake.
Practice focus: Felonies, DUI, trials
Bobby Shamuilian holds a perfect Avvo 10.0 "Top Attorney" rating and has been recognized among Top 40 Under 40 and Top 100 Trial Lawyers.
Practice focus: Arson, assault, homicide, serious felonies
Principal attorney James McGee concentrates on complex and violent felony charges — the high-stakes cases where the trial lawyer's experience is decisive.
Practice focus: Assault, burglary, domestic violence, DUI, fraud, homicide
Represents Riverside-area residents across a broad range of felony and misdemeanor charges, from DUI to homicide.
Tell us about your situation and we will match you with vetted criminal defense attorneys in Riverside. Free, confidential, no obligation.
It starts with arrest or a notice to appear, then arraignment in the Riverside County Superior Court, where you enter a plea and bail is set. Misdemeanors often resolve over a handful of hearings across two to six months. Felonies run longer: a preliminary hearing decides whether the case is held to answer, then pretrial conferences, motions, and — if no resolution — trial, typically 6 to 18 months out.
Most cases resolve by negotiated plea or diversion, not trial. But the deals a deputy DA offers track directly to the defense lawyer's willingness and ability to try the case. A firm with a real Riverside trial record gets better offers earlier.
California criminal defense is usually flat-fee by charge level. Expect roughly $1,500–$5,000 for a misdemeanor, $2,500–$10,000 for a DUI, and $5,000–$25,000 or more for a felony, depending on complexity and whether the case goes to trial. Hourly work runs about $250–$500 per hour. Most firms quote a fixed fee through a defined stage and a separate trial fee if the case does not settle.
Get the fee, what it covers, and the trial fee in writing. A clear written engagement letter is the mark of a firm that runs its practice properly.
The Riverside County District Attorney charges aggressively and the felony calendar moves quickly, so early defense work — preserving evidence, lining up witnesses, filing suppression motions — matters more here than in slower counties.
California also offers paths to a clean record that a good lawyer will pursue: expungement under Penal Code 1203.4 after probation, and pretrial diversion for many drug and first-time offenses. For DUI under Vehicle Code 23152, the DMV license hearing runs on a separate, fast clock from the criminal case — you generally have only 10 days after arrest to request it, so the firm you hire needs to move immediately.
One year from the offense for most misdemeanors and three years for most felonies, under California Penal Code sections 801 and 802. Serious felonies such as those carrying eight or more years, and certain sex offenses, have longer periods, and some have none.
A misdemeanor carries up to one year in county jail; a felony can mean state prison. Some California offenses are "wobblers" that the DA can charge either way, which is exactly where an experienced lawyer can push for the misdemeanor.
Often yes. Under Penal Code 1203.4 you can petition to withdraw the plea and dismiss the case after you complete probation, which removes most consequences for jobs and housing. Eligibility depends on the offense and your record.
Two separate tracks run at once: the criminal case in Superior Court and an administrative license suspension through the DMV. You generally have only 10 days from the arrest to request the DMV hearing, so contact a lawyer immediately.
Yes. Every firm on this list offers a free initial case review. Criminal defense is typically billed as a flat fee by charge level rather than on contingency.
Riverside County public defenders are skilled but carry heavy caseloads. If you can afford private counsel, you get more time, faster attention, and a lawyer you choose. If you cannot, the public defender is a real and capable option.