Advocate Brian Russell Michaels

Brian Michaels is the only attorney in Southern California to have worked as a front line Prosecutor, Police Litigator and full time private Criminal Defense Attorney. Attorney Michaels was hired directly out of law school, where he graduated with academic honors, to work for the Los Angeles City Attorney in the mid 1990s. As a young Prosecutor Michaels tried nearly 100 cases to verdict and settled nearly 1000 more cases. Michaels success as a trial attorney allowed him to work as a trial advocate trainer, in which he was assigned to teach trial skills to lawyers from large corporate firms in trial advocacy. 
After several years working as a front line trial lawyer attorney Michaels moved over to the LAPD's elite litigation unit during the height of the cities Rampart Scandal in which he won all of his jury trials. Michaels worked intimately with law enforcement during these years and valued his time working and learning from law enforcement. His years working as a Prosecutor and Police Litigation Attorney gave him invaluable training and experience, nearly unparalled amongst working defense attorneys. After nearly 8 years in government service Michaels retired to private practice in 2002. 
Since that time, Michaels has applied his considerable experience to the defense of individuals charged with crimes throughout the State of California where he has worked on thousands of criminal cases as well as domestic violence cases in the family courts. He has distinguished himself in private practice as one of the nations's top 100 trial lawyers with the highest rating on AVVO. Attorney Michaels belives that his experience working for the Government provides rare insights that can be brought to bear in the defense of his clients at the hands of over zealous prosecutors and police officers. 
In 2021, Michaels opened 'The Restraining Order Lawyer' in response to an overwhelming demand in the wake of the pandemic. His office recognized that the lack of police presence in many parts of the state has lead to an increased demand in people needing to resolve their legal issues without the help of law enforcement. We are committed to assisting people bringing and defending any restraining order case. 
Michaels is a hands-on attorney and values direct client communciation, absolute honesty and maintains a fair and reasonable fee schedule which includes payment plans for qualified clients. He values his availability, relatability, and compassion for his clients as his greatest strengths. He is committed from the first client phone call to the very best advocacy a client can receive. Mr. Michaels main office is in Westwood, California and also maintains offices in Newport Beach, Palm Springs, Santa Barbara and San Diego and accepts cases in Los Angeles, Orange, Santa Barbara,  Riveside, San Bernarndino, Ventura and San Diego Counties.