Legal Articles, Misdemeanor

California Burglary Laws

Burglary in California is defined as entering a property other than your own with the intent to steal or commit a felony. It does not necessarily have to involve a robbery, and so, the laws are divided into separate categories with separate penalties.

About California Assault

General Assault, which is acting in a manner that could possibly result in the application of force.

California Health and Safety Code 11362.5

Marijuana possession is still a crime in California, even though there’s been widespread debate to legalize this drug. Under California Health and Safety Code 11362.5 however, it states that this crime is punishable by jail time, monetary fines, probation and more.

White Collar Crime FAQs

The majority of my practice focuses on federal white collar crimes, which can be a confusing area of law for people who are unfamiliar with the system. In that vein, I've compiled some basic questions and answers regarding white collar criminal defense to help shed some light on the process.

Right to a Fair Trial

Some defendants think that they can "beat the system" on their own. Those who have been through the criminal system know better: having an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side is the best way to prevent becoming another statistic.

Constitutional Right to Counsel

The Sixth Amendment of the US Constitution guarantees the right to an attorney to anyone facing federal criminal charges. The 14th Amendment and some state constitutions also afford this right to anyone facing state felony charges.

Defenses to Crimes

Generally speaking, there are 2 basic components to every crime: the criminal act (actus reus) and the criminal intent (mens rea). The prosecution must prove not only that the defendant committed an act prohibited by the law, but also the intent to commit the criminal act beyond a reasonable doubt.

Are There Times When a Police Officer Needs a Search Warrant?

Yes, there are times when a police officer must have a search warrant to search you or your belongings but in some cases, the officer can obtain verbal permission to search.

Finding a Job After a Criminal Conviction

If you have been convicted of a crime, you may wonder if you will be able to find employment. Employers are becoming increasingly concerned about knowing whether applicants have criminal records.

Criminal Defense Basics

Our criminal justice system is complex, both conceptually and procedurally. To ensure the fairness of the proceedings, each court system has its own rules of criminal procedure that govern the actions of all players: police, defense lawyers, prosecutors, judges and juries.

Legal Articles Additional Disclaimer

Lawyer.com is not a law firm and does not offer legal advice. Content posted on Lawyer.com is the sole responsibility of the person from whom such content originated and is not reviewed or commented on by Lawyer.com. The application of law to any set of facts is a highly specialized skill, practiced by lawyers and often dependent on jurisdiction. Content on the site of a legal nature may or may not be accurate for a particular state or jurisdiction and may largely depend on specific circumstances surrounding individual cases, which may or may not be consistent with your circumstances or may no longer be up-to-date to the extent that laws have changed since posting. Legal articles therefore are for review as general research and for use in helping to gauge a lawyer's expertise on a matter. If you are seeking specific legal advice, Lawyer.com recommends that you contact a lawyer to review your specific issues. See Lawyer.com's full Terms of Use for more information.