David Steven Chesley

David Steven Chesley

4.9
Rating: 6.7

Licensed for 20 years

Criminal defense Lawyer at Los Angeles, CA
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense, DUI & DWI, Violent Crime, Domestic Violence

445 South Figueroa Street., Suite 2700, Los Angeles, CA

About David

Biography

Practice Areas

4

Practice Areas

Criminal Defense 30%

Drug Possession/Drug Sales of Cocaine, Meth, Marijuana, Heroin, Ecstasy, Prescription Drugs, Grand Theft, Burglary (Commercial and Residential), Identity Theft, Fraud, Petty Theft, Solicitation of Prostitution

21 years | 15,000 cases

30%
DUI and DWI 30%

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Marijuana, Meth, Heroin, Cocaine, Ecstasy, Prescription Drugs, Refusal Cases

21 years | 15,000 cases

30%
Violent Crime 30%

Murder, Robbery, Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Criminal Threats, Rape, Molestation, Assault on a Police Officer, Resisting Arrest, Unlawful Possession of Firearms, Gang-Related Offenses,

21 years | 15,000 cases

30%
Domestic Violence 10%

Gross Bodily Injury/Major Injury and Minor to No Injury Domestic Violence Cases

21 years | 6,000 cases

10%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Free Consultation

$0 first 60 minutes


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

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Licenses

Licensed in California for 20 years

State: California

Acquired: 2005

Active

Lawyer disciplined by state licensing authority in 2023

Location

Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc.

445 South Figueroa Street., Suite 2700, Los Angeles, CA, 90071

Law Offices Of David S. Chesley, Inc.

7676 Hazard Center Drive, Suite 500, San Diego, CA, 92108

Law Offices Of David S. Chesley, Inc.

500 North State College Blvd., Ste. 1100, Orange, CA, 92868

Law Offices Of David S. Chesley, Inc.

201 Spear Street, Suite 1100, San Francisco, CA, 94105

Law Offices Of David S. Chesley, Inc.

5150 E. Pacific Coast Hwy, Suite 200, Long Beach, CA, 90804

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David Steven Chesley's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.9 /5.0

188 Client Reviews

Showing 1 - 5 of 6 reviews | Punctuality

Posted by Edwin | November 07, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Lawsuits & Disputes

Highly recommended

David did great on my case, my attorney was always at court, always in touch, met with me after every hearing to discuss my case, and actually cared to get me the results that i needed. Highly recommended!

Posted by Matt | August 23, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

Great lawyer

Davis Chesley is an excellent attorney. I have used him on two occasions and have been very satisfied with his work as my attorney. On both occasions he was able to help me with my indiscretions and keep me from having a criminal record. Also on both occasions he showed up promptly and got me out of ...jail and back home with my family with just one call from my wife. David Chesley is not just a good attorney he's also a great person. I will always feel comfortable knowing that I have him on my side.

Posted by Nancy | September 15, 2015 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

Do not hire them

it was my first time being arrested, so the next couple of days I received a whole bunch of letters from all kinds of attorneys. I did contact a few attorneys before deciding to hire this company. The first guy I met with was extremely nice, told me everything was going to be ok and we had a good cha...nce of winning my case. A few days after meeting with him I was then contacted by my attorney, Christina. We reviewed my case and she stated there was still a high chance of me doing jail time. She made me feel very uneasy about this whole situation. Court day was approaching and my attorney is nowhere to be found. Left several messages to her until I found out she quit. I was never contacted by anybody informing me of this. My court day shows up and my newly appointed lawyer is late. I am due to return to court in 2 weeks and once again my NEW attorney is nowhere to be found! We never discussed the first time we went to court, we never discussed what the next step would be, I'm scared as hell now because I can now be wrongfully convicted because of this unprofessional lawfirm. If your looking to hire an attorney you can feel confident about and trust, do not contact them.

Posted by Yulia | July 30, 2014 | DUI & DWI

Don't go there!

When I first came there a person who introduced himself as David told me that I have nothing to worry about, that my case would be fast and easy resolved, that my charges would be reduced or even dismissed. I believed him. Later, after I gave him my money and asked him different questions about my c...ase - he had no idea how to answer. He told me that I don't need to worry about DMV case, because I had an international DL and they did NOTHING about it, didn't even try to set up a hearing what resulted in me loosing my driving privileges for 4 months. I only found out about that 2 months later, when I called DMV myself (continuing driving all this time, which could've resulted in me going to jail). When I called the office they told me, that there's nothing they could do about it and that I need to wait until suspension is over. I asked DMV if I could've had a hearing even with international DL, and I was told that yes, if I'd requested it in time, but because I was misled by employees of this office, I lost my right to drive. Oh, and that David guy started hitting on me almost right away, which was a completely inappropriate behavior. You will never see David Chesley personally, all you'll only be dealing with are different "case managers" paralegals and attorneys. For every single court appearance they sent a different person: one of them completely messed up another ones work - he took the motion off the calendar with no apparent reason, plus he didn't know anything about my case when he showed up an hour late. All of this resulted in my DUI case being delayed and me being unable to get the final disposition in time for my immigration interview and delaying my immigration process. Also, when I spoke with that guy on the phone before my hearing - he told me there's nothing he can do and I'll get everything the DA was offering me, he didn't even want to try and reduce my charges! There's a kind of representation you'd want in a case with your whole future at risk! Two other attorneys were nice, but there was nothing they could do anymore. I still had to show up for every single hearing. At the end I still received a first time DUI, the deal I would've gotten without any attorney (right in front of me the DA gave it to a person with 0.25 BAC, who was representing himself! My BAC was 0.13). Thanks to the last attorney they sent I got community labor, the only good thing that they did for me, which, I'm sure, I would've gotten with a public defender. The main thing I learned from this experience - don't waste your time and money, go to a better attorney or public defender - they would do a better job and maybe even save your license.

Posted by anonymous | June 01, 2014 | Drug Crime

Fast, easy to work with.

Really easy to work with and always timely. When I called the Law Offices of David Chesley I was impressed with how quick they got me talking to a lawyer. Although David was not available, The person I got to talk with was very professional and informative. I've dealt with a lot of lawyers who take ...their clients for granted and don't provide much help, but David and his office were the exact opposite, doing everything they could to help me through this horrible ordeal. Fighting drug charges is not easy and can get very complicated, I had the best help I could ask for and everything went smooth and according to their plan.

See All Client Reviews

David Steven Chesley's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse David
Donald Blake Serafano headshot
Donald Serafano

Criminal defense lawyer | Feb 01

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Mr. Chesley provides an effective and affordable defense for all of his clients."

Jonathan Pierre Lacour headshot
Jonathan Lacour

Unknown lawyer | Jun 25

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"One of the absolute best. Exceptional attention to detail, service next to none. I endorse this lawyer."

Mark George Cunningham headshot
Mark Cunningham

Immigration lawyer | Mar 29

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Wilfredo Alberto Trivino-Perez headshot
Wilfredo Trivino-Perez

Criminal defense lawyer | Aug 24

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Christopher Robert Martens headshot
Christopher Martens

Criminal defense lawyer | Aug 08

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. He has the legal skills and practical experience needed to excel at Criminal Defense."

Michael S. Waddington headshot
Michael Waddington

Criminal defense lawyer | Jun 06

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse David. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community."

Gary Solomon Brotman headshot
Gary Brotman

Criminal defense lawyer | Oct 18

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Attorney Chesley has the expertise and experience to win even the most difficult cases. His resume and his results speak for themselves! He is highly regarded by his colleagues and his clients. It is a pleasure for me to endorse Mr. Chesley for his tireless efforts and his history of success in providing valuable service to clients in need."

John H. Mardoyan headshot
John Mardoyan

Criminal defense lawyer | Oct 02

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Attorney Chesley is a zealous advocate for his clients and is a criminal defense lawyer with real Courtroom experience. If you have a criminal issue, Attorney Chesley is well-qualified to provide you with an excellent defense."

Joshua Eleazar Esmeralda Matic headshot
Joshua Matic

Criminal defense lawyer | Jun 20

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"David is a tenacious advocate who goes the extra mile to obtain the best results for his clients. You will be hard pressed to find an attorney who works harder and is more committed to his clients than David Chesley. I highly recommend him."

Robert Evan Williams headshot
Robert Williams

Criminal defense lawyer | Jun 18

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"David is an outstanding lawyer and officer of the court. He works hard to achieve the best result for his clients."

Lisa Robinette Colosi headshot
Lisa Colosi

Criminal defense lawyer | Jun 18

Relationship: Other

"I've known David Chesley by reputation for a long time and have had the pleasure to know him personally along with his wonderfully dedicated staff for several years now. He has organized and heads up a team of competent and zealous legal professionals who fight hard for his client's rights."

Imran Syed headshot
Imran Syed

Criminal defense lawyer | Jun 18

Relationship: Worked for lawyer

"I endorse David Chesley. David Chesley’s firm works hard to make sure the clients get the best representation possible."

Melvin Stephen Betnun headshot
Melvin Betnun

Criminal defense lawyer | Jun 18

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I've known David for a number of years and over that period of time I have developed a great deal of respect for him. David is extremely dedicated to his clients and his craft and is the first person I turn to whenever any of my clients or friends need help with a criminal matter. I highly recommend David to anyone needing criminal or DUI defense."

Steven Zane Rothschild headshot
Steven Rothschild

Criminal defense lawyer | Jun 18

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"David is one of the best criminal defenses lawyers I know… his results speak for themselves. I have sent multiple clients to him and without exception they have all been glad I did. While there are many lawyers who practice DUI and criminal defense law; there are very few who have mastered it. David is one of the few. The best endorsement I can give is this… if I were ever arrested; he would be my first phone call."

Kareem A. Ramadan headshot
Kareem Ramadan

Unknown lawyer | Jun 17

Relationship: Worked for lawyer

"I endorse Mr. Chesley for having extensive experience to provide excellent criminal defense for his clients."

Yvonne Carole Parsons headshot
Yvonne Parsons

Criminal defense lawyer | Jun 17

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Experience. Commitment. Trust. These three attributes are why I strongly recommend David Chesley. I have seen firsthand David Chesley's firm work diligently for his clients in the courtroom. In Criminal Defense you won't find a better advocate."

Christopher Robin Kelley headshot
Christopher Kelley

Criminal defense lawyer | Jun 07

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer for outstanding commitment to follow-up and attention to detail with client matters."

Josef Ariel Castiel headshot
Josef Castiel

Criminal defense lawyer | Jan 18

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I wholeheartedly endorse Mr. Chesley. Anyone who hires David Chesley is hiring one of the best, and most experienced lawyers in California. Mr. Chesley knows exactly what to do to get you the best result possible in both criminal and civil matters"

Cyrus S. Tabibnia headshot
Cyrus Tabibnia

Criminal defense lawyer | Sep 10

Relationship: Worked for lawyer

"I endorse this lawyer's work."

Mark Johnson headshot
Mark Johnson

Criminal defense lawyer | Aug 09

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer's work."

View All Endorsements
Mark Johnson headshot
Mark Johnson

Criminal defense lawyer

Experience

Rating:  6.7 (Good)

Professional misconduct

This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority in 2023.

Public reproval with/duties issued in CA, 2023

updated on 01/30/2024

A censure or reprimand issued by the Supreme Court or the State Bar Court that is not a matter of public record unless imposed after the initiation of formal disciplinary proceedings. No period of suspension is imposed. The reproval may be imposed with duties or conditions.

Honors

2022

Client Champion Award, Martindale-Hubbell

2015

AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5.0 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

2014

AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5.0 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

2014

Alcohol Breath Testing Certification, Ventura College

2014

Clients' Choice Award, Avvo

2014

DUI Advanced Training Seminar, CA DUI Lawyers Association

2013

AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5.0 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

2013

Client's Choice Award, Avvo

2012

AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5.0 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

2012

Handling DUI Cases Seminar, CACJ Association

2011

AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5.0 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

2010

AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5.0 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell

2005

Amjur-rated #1 in Legislation, Southwestern Law School

Work Experience

2006 - Present

President, Managing Attorney, Law Offices of David S. Chesley, Inc.

2003 - 2006

Government Attorney, Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office

Associations

2005 - Present

National College of DUI Defense

Member

2005 - Present

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Member

2004 - Present

American Immigration Lawyers Association

Member

2004 - Present

Los Angeles County Bar Association

Member

2004 - Present

Criminal Courts Bar Association

Member

2004 - Present

San Fernando Valley Bar Association

Member

2004 - Present

State Bar of California, Criminal Law Section

Member

2004 - Present

Attorneys for Criminal Justice

Member

2004 - Present

Beverly Hills Bar Association

Member

Sample of Legal Cases

Attempted Murder, California Penal Code 187, PC 664

CLIENT WAS FACING LIFE IN PRISON, DISMISSAL OF ALL CHARGES

Armed Robbery, PC 211

FACING 15 YEARS, PROVED MISIDENTIFICATION, DISMISSAL OF ALL CHARGES

Assault with a Deadly Weapon PC 245(a)(1), Domestic Violence (Corporal Injury on a Spouse) PC 273.5(a)

DISMISSAL OF ALL CHARGES

Child Molestation PC 288 and Sodomy with Child under Age 10 PC 288.7

DISMISSAL OF ALL CHARGES, NO SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION

Third Strike Case (Possession of Methamphetamine HS 11377(a))

REDUCED FROM 25 YEARS YEARS TO LIFE IN STATE PRISON TO A MISDEMEANOR

Second Strike Case (Grand Theft Auto PC 459(d)(1) and VC 10351)

FACING 10 YEARS, REDUCED TO A MISDEMEANOR, RECEIVED NO JAIL TIME

See More Legal Cases

Education

2004

Southwestern University School of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

2002

Univ of California Santa Barbara

undergraduate

Speaking Engagements

2015

North Hollywood Actors Studio

Legal Ethics- Stage Reading

Publications

2014

Chesley Law Firm Criminal Defense Website LAPD Using New Computer Techniques to Predict Crimes

2014

Chesley Law Firm Criminal Defense Website California DNA Collection Law For Felony Arrests Upheld

2013

2013

Chesley Law Firm Costs of a First Time DUI

Languages

Armenian

Korean

Tagalog

Spanish

Mandarin

Farsi

English

Hindi

Persian

Activity

Avvo Rating

Our Rating is calculated using information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals. Attorneys who claim their profiles and provide Avvo with more information tend to have a higher rating than those who do not.

What determines Avvo Rating?
  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
  • Legal community recognition Peer endorsements, associations, awards
  • Legal thought leadership Publications, speaking engagements
  • Discipline
    This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority in 2023
    Disciplinary information may not be comprehensive, or updated. We recommend that you always check a lawyer's disciplinary status with their respective state bar association before hiring them.
Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution