Simon Budhwani | Orange Criminal Lawyer

A young man with a one year old child hired me to defend him in a domestic violence case. Wife/Mother was trying to get a strategic advantage related to custody, support and possession of the home by filing and attempting to obtain a Domestic Violence Restraining Order. If she was successful the court would have presumed 1) it was not in the best interest of the child to see the father (with him having the burden to prove otherwise), 2) he could not collect support from her (he was a stay at home dad), and 3) she would get exclusive use of the home even though he put the down payment. She even went to the extent to call federal authorities and file a false report against him. After a three day evidentiary hearing he was found not to have committed domestic violence and she was sanctioned financially for bringing a false claim. Why this one matters? He now has custody of his 1 ½ year daughter, gets support, and is able to provide the child a good home. Many men and women file false domestic violence claims in order to obtain a strategic advantage. California allows as much. Fortunately, I and my team at Core Law Group do not.

The 80/20 rule. When I started my firm I bought a book by Jay Foonberg titled How to Start a Law Firm. The majority of the book was outdated and not helpful. However, the chapter on the 80/20 rule is one I live by to this day. It essentially says that when you start your firm you will not have cases to work on so you should spend 80% of your time studying the law and meeting other lawyers to build relationships. By doing so you will become a recognized expert and at some point you will be working on cases 80% of the time. When that happens you hire an additional attorney you trust to work with you and go back to 80% studying and building relationships until you find yourself working on cases 80% of the time. Basically, the idea is you repeat every year. The firm grows and you become an expert. It's the secret to my success.

Reviews by others. A bad lawyer cannot hide from the internet. A good lawyer earns his or her amazing Yelp, Google and Avvo reviews. They will not jeopardize their reputation with short cuts. It is cliché, but honesty is the second most important thing a client should look for. Meet the person and ask them what my worst case scenario is. If they sugar coat it, do not hire them. If they are honest then do.

In the areas of family law and criminal defense it is important to know the Judge as well as opposing counsel. Each judge has different personalities, different likes and dislikes. Some are pro wife, some have a bias favoring military men, some are lazy and don't want to look at financials, some are hard on particular crimes such as drug crimes while easy on white collar crime, or vice versa. Hiring an attorney that knows the Judge is more important then a Harvard law degree. A client is entitled to kick one judge under CCP 170.6 without cause so long as they have not previously appeared in front of that judge. What does this mean? You get one free bee to get rid of a bad judge but you have to do it before you appear. If the attorney does not know the Judge they will not likely exercise the 170.6 and the client will be stuck with a bad Judge for their particular case.

I spend twice the time most attorneys do on a phone consult. I take notes in preparation for an in person meeting. This way I can prepare. After the consultation I email the client my notes and a gameplan/stategy as to how I would approach their particular case.

The general facts, what the client is concerned about, and what the client would like to accomplish.

Collaboration. I believe 2 minds are better than one. I have a team of very talented attorneys. We all collaborate with each other on every case without cost to the client. At times we send two attorneys to trial without additional cost to the client. We hate losing and will work hard to avoid it.

A hug in the elevator from a happy client. A thank you letter. A smile earned from a job well done.

I am an amateur boxer and an avid Lakers fan.

I sit on many boards including the Young Executive Committee of Center Club and Socialite, a non profit networking group aiming to provide charitable contributions to those in need in Orange County. I am a former board member for the Orange County Bar Association - YLD Division. I am the former committee chair for the American Bar Association Committee for Family law.

• American Bar Association, General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Division | Chair | 2012 - Present
  Orange County Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division        Candidate, | Chair Elect 2011 | 2011 - Present
  Orange County Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division | Member | 2010 - Present
  American Bar Association | Member | 2010 - Present
  Orange County Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division | Chair | 2012 - 2013

• Super Lawyer Rising Star | Super Lawyers Magazine | 2016
  Top 10 Attorneys Under 40 | National Academy Of Family Law Attorneys | 2015
  Top Lawyer | OC Metro Magazine | 2014
  Pro Bono Award | Legal Services Corporation | 2011
  Amjur - Crimal Procedure | University of Laverne College of Law | 2007

• Simon Budhwani - Nancy Grace on Real Houswives Divorce
  T.B. v S.B.: Family law case brought to prevent wife, a reality TV Star, from putting the parties minor children on the TV Show. Successfully brought a motion resulting in a Court Order the minor children could not participate in the TV show without client's consent. Subsequently, obtained physical custody of minor daughter on behalf of client.

• OC Super Lawyer - Criminal Case
  People v B.H.: Dui Traffic case. Represented and obtained a reckless driving as opposed to a DUI on a 0.15 blood alcohol level. Procedurally out maneuvered the DA so as to suppress their witnesses testimony leaving them with a hampered case.

• OC Lawyer Magazine - July 2012 Issue | Young Lawyers Dividion Leader | 2012
  Journal of Juvenile Law | Juvenile Court Takes Terroristic Threatening Seriously | 2007

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