California Lawyers

Courts in California

Most civil and criminal matters in California start in the state's trial courts and can be reviewed on appeal, though some matters begin in federal, administrative, or specialized forums. Which courthouse handles a case depends on where you live and what kind of case it is. Court-by-court guides for California are in preparation.

What is coming next for this page: city pages for Los Angeles and other metros, practice area pages, and the first attorney listings, built from public bar records. We publish in small waves and only link what already exists.

Official resources in California

Two official sources sit behind every California listing and are worth knowing directly: the licensing body that verifies every attorney here, and the court system that will hear most cases.

• The State Bar of California is where California attorney licenses are issued and where you can check any attorney's standing yourself.
• California Courts, Judicial Branch of California publishes court locations, filing rules, and self-help information for California cases.