Irvine Criminal Defense Lawyers
A Defense Team with Decades of Experience
If you’ve been arrested, charged, or learn you’re under criminal investigation, the stakes are real. Jail or prison time can be on the table, and even a misdemeanor can create long-term problems for employment, licensing, and background checks.
The sooner you have a plan, the more control you have over what happens next.
Our attorneys at The Law Offices of Taylor & Taylor have been defending clients across Irvine and Orange County since 1979. We’re nationally recognized for pioneering DUI defense in California, but our criminal defense practice extends far beyond DUI.
We represent clients in matters ranging from low-level misdemeanors to the most serious felony allegations, with a focus on evidence, procedure, and courtroom strategy.
A few reasons clients hire our team:
- Defense attorneys with decades of experience handling criminal cases throughout Southern California
- Thousands of matters successfully handled, including high-stakes cases where evidence and credibility decide outcomes
- Perspective from both sides: former prosecutors and former law enforcement experience on the team
- Technical insight when procedure matters: support from professionals with major crime lab / blood-alcohol unit experience
How We Build a Defense
A criminal case is only as strong as its foundations: legal authority, reliable evidence, and provable facts.
Our job is to test each part of the prosecution’s case and build leverage where the record doesn’t support what the state is alleging.
Early case work typically focuses on:
- What the state must prove: We break allegations into elements and identify what’s missing or overstated.
- How the evidence was obtained: Stops, searches, seizures, and interviews often create issues that can change the case.
- Credibility and documentation: Reports aren’t neutral; we look for inconsistencies, omissions, and timeline problems.
- Evidence reliability: When the case depends on technical procedures, chain of custody, or lab-style documentation, we scrutinize the process.
- Strategic motion practice: When appropriate, motions to suppress or exclude evidence can narrow charges or force dismissal.
Then we align strategy to your priorities—minimizing custody exposure, protecting your record, and limiting collateral consequences tied to work, licensing, and future opportunities.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Can I Clear My Record Later?
Sometimes. Options may include expungement or other relief depending on the charge, the outcome, and eligibility. This is worth discussing early, because the way a case resolves can affect what’s available later.
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Should I Use a Public Defender or Hire a Private Lawyer?
Public defenders are often skilled, but caseload volume can limit time and resources. A private attorney may be able to dedicate more attention to investigation, motion practice, and communication—especially in higher-exposure matters.
A consultation is useful for comparing:
- Exposure level (custody risk, felony vs. misdemeanor, enhancements)
- Case complexity (witness disputes, technical evidence, motion needs)
- What the case will realistically require in time and resources
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Can Charges Be Dropped?
Yes. It depends on what the evidence actually shows, whether witnesses hold up, and whether there are legal problems with how the case was built.
Common pathways include:
- Insufficient evidence to prove an element beyond a reasonable doubt
- Suppression/exclusion issues tied to stops, searches, or statements
- Witness credibility problems or contradictions in the record
- Charging overreach that doesn’t match the provable facts
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Should I Talk to Police or Investigators if They “Just Want My Side”?
Usually, you should speak with a lawyer first. Investigations don’t stay informal for long, and statements can shape charging decisions.
Practical reasons to be cautious:
- Your statement becomes evidence and may be summarized in a way you can’t control
- Details get locked in (even small inconsistencies can be used against you later)
- You may not know the full allegation or what evidence law enforcement already has
