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Daniel Martin Smith
also known as Dan Smith, San Diego Defenders
About Daniel
Biography
I am the founder of San Diego Defenders, the preminent private Civil Rights law firm in San Diego. We are a team of lawyers. That means that two lawyers are always working on your case. We offer in-house payment plans in a comfortable boutique law firm setting with free parking and state of the art conference room and digital screens for viewing and listening to evidence such as the important video received almost all cases. We work hard to get the best results and our reviews show that to be true!
I began my law career as a trial lawyer for Federal Defenders of San Diego. I am a 3rd generation lawyer beginning with my grandfather R.G. Smith who began his practice in 1916 during the prohibition era and my father, Raph Smith, and 1950 Northwestern Law graduate and former judge in Phoenix, Arizona. I graduated 1987 Arizona State University with a BS in Economics followed by a law degree 1990 California Western School of Law where I received the American Jurisprudence Award in trial practice. My first job was with former Federal Defenders and later hired as a trial lawyer. My father taught me many trial skills and he actually tried a case with a young Chief Justice William Renquist before he was appointed to the United States Supreme Court.
My goal as a lawyer, first and foremost, is to fight for my clients rights civil rights and obtain the best result whether a favorable disposition, a dismissal or an aquittal at trial. I want hel get my client's life back to normal as soon as is possible.
Call San Diego Defenders 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at to talk to Dan Smith directly!
Practice Areas
5
Practice Areas
State, Local, and Municipal Law
45%
36 years | 2,800 cases
Federal Crime
20%
36 years | 584 cases
White Collar Crime
20%
36 years | 255 cases
DUI and DWI
10%
36 years | 2,806 cases
Fees and Rates
Cost
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Arizona for 34 years
State: Arizona
Acquired: 1991
No misconduct found
Licensed in California for 35 years
State: California
Acquired: 1990
No misconduct found
Location
San Diego Defenders
585 3rd Ave, Chula Vista, CA, 91910
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Daniel Martin Smith's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
28 Client Reviews
Filter Avvo Reviews (28)
Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.
Practice Areas
What Clients Mention
Case Results (20)
Advocacy (16)
Recommendation (11)
Professionalism (9)
Character & Conduct (8)
Communication Style (7)
Cost of Services (5)
General Knowledge (5)
Practice Area Knowledge (5)
Staff & Support (5)
Responsiveness (4)
Compassion (3)
Trustworthiness (3)
Payment Plans (2)
Free Consultations (1)
Showing 11 - 15 of 28 reviews
Posted by anonymous | April 23, 2018 | Hired Attorney
Excellent representation for DUI
Mr Smith represented me well, kept me informed along the way, help keep me calm and confident in unknown territory. Furthermore, when questions arose he took my call and answered all my questions. He made it easier to afford by offering a payment plan.
Daniel Smith
Replied last April 23, 2018Thank you. Jon Pettis and myself, Dan Smith with our paralegal Layla Smith truly really want the best for our clients. That is why we limit the number of cases we take each month and we are willing to litigate and go to trial enthusiastically which is not common these days! Reputation to fight for our clients helps us to settle the cases to our clients benefit! Thanks for your review!
Posted by Rob | October 05, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Speeding & Traffic Ticket
Daniel is the attorney that you should be working with.
Ok. I am a very hard working technical professional always rushing to the next job. I was in a hurry a couple of months ago and received a speeding ticket. Daniel Smith represented me and was able to get the whole thing dismissed. Daniel's representation is unsurpassed and you need to call him t...
Posted by anonymous | September 22, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Lawsuits & Disputes
DUI case
The case was dismissed. Mr. Smith was very helpful and answered all questions throughout the entire process.
Daniel Smith
Replied last September 22, 2017Thank you for the review. Cases can be dismissed for a number of reasons. But in this case it was unusual because we maintained the same defense throughout the case. This was a clear case where the prosecutor realized that there were two problems they could not overcome. First, we had a great defense. Second, they were up against San Diego Defenders Dan Smith and Jon Pettis. We try cases to win and they know it.
Posted by Camilo | September 07, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense
Amazing Lawyer
My case started as a Misdemeanor Battery in October of 2016, it involved pepper spray and the other party placing me in a private persons arrest. During the initial contact with the officer I was asked about my dashboard camera. Unfortunate for me the officer took my dashboard camera as evidence agai...
Daniel Smith
Replied last September 07, 2017I am late commenting on this case, but I had to! This was a bogus charge that was brought by the San Diego Port Police using code sections for assault and another specifically for use of pepper spray. The fact was our client was acting in self defense and we were not going to let him get shoved into a crime of violence that would end his job as a Lyft or Uber driver as soon as a background check was ever done. We had to beat it and we knew it. Myself, Daniel Smith, supervising attorney and Jon Pettis, my partner, worked this case until we got it dismissed. When a law firm has a reputation that they do not back down, and that IS our reputation, the prosecutor knows that we are good trial lawyers and we win cases. Bragging? Maybe a little, but it is true. We took a payment plan that is even lower than usual because our client impressed us as being a straight up guy. That is also why we do not quote fees over the phone, because we want to meet you and get an impression of who you are. Not all cases are the same and not all clients are the same! Call us and set an appointment. If the lawyer wants to quote a fee over the phone, beware! That is kind of like a auto body shop saying we charge the same to fix any fender on any car, Huh? How can you do that and do a good job? We want to continue to earn the reputation as the best criminal defense lawyer team in all of San Diego! Dan
Posted by Alexandra | September 07, 2017 | Hired Attorney | DUI & DWI
Great Team
My husband was Involved in a DUI accident with injury. We were very afraid of consequences and a possible bad criminal record. I found Mr. Smith through yelp services online. I like most people are, was skeptical about anything to do with any attorney or lawyer. I called for an appointment and we met...
Daniel Smith
Replied last September 07, 2017And what a case this was. A happy ending after some real gut-wrenching moments. All it takes for a misdemeanor DUI VC 23152 A to go to a felony is for someone to grab the back of their neck and say "it hurts!" and all of a sudden, the complaint changes to a VC 23153(A) felony DUI with injury. We fought the prosecutor on what exactly the injuries were and what made them substantial. The prosecutor and the judge finally sided with us. But the real problem is that, as a private lawyer, you can appear for your client in a misdemeanor. But when the DA changes the charges, all of a sudden, the client needs to be present or a warrant is issued. That is why we always call the DA a day in advance when there is an accident involved in the case to make sure it has not been filed as a felony. Important stuff. We get calls from defendants that find out the hard way that their DUI lawyers are not so experienced as the "founder" of the firm and they do not know what to do and the founder is no involved to any great degree in the case. At San Diego Defenders, I myself, Daniel Smith, have 27 years experience, my partner Jon Pettis has 21 years. We are the only 2 lawyers handling the cases. Period. And better yet, Layla Smith has been a criminal defense paralegal for about 18 years so she knows who to call and we do our best to avert problems. Also, it is important to take advantage of experience when negotiating, as we did in this case and got credit for time served that helped our client immensely since the DA caused the problem in the first place. Getting the best results sometimes means knowing who you are dealing with, whether a judge or prosecutor and knowing when to pull the trigger on the case. Timing is everything and we got this case reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor and got our client released immediately. Results! Felonies are bad news when you have a family to raise. We answer every phone call and get answers to the family on the spot. Teamwork got us a great result and we are happy for our client on this Felony DUI in San Diego reduced to a misdemeanor. That is why we call ourselves the best DUI lawyer team in San Diego. Two lawyers (and a great paralegal) for the price of one AND a payment plan. Where else can you find that? Thanks for letting us help you and your husband take care of your beautiful young family!
Daniel Martin Smith's Lawyer Endorsements
"I endorse this lawyer. Dan Smith is one of the most skillful defense attorneys I have known in my 15 years of practice in San Diego. When you add to that how sincerely concerned about his clients he is, it is a combination that makes an excellent advocate. Whether it is negotiating a plea or taking the case to trial, I would tust him to handle any criminal matter."
"I have know Dan for over 10 years. He is a terrific attorney and very dedicated to his work. He has an excellent reputation throughout all courts in San Diego County with judges, prosecutors and fellow criminal defense attorneys. He is knowledgeable in the law and is a tireless advocate on behalf of his clients."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"Daniel is an exceptional criminal defense attorney whose reputation speaks for itself. Highly recommended lawyer."
"Attorney Dan Smith is a preeminent San Diego criminal defense lawyer. We have collaborated on countless cases over many years and I endorse him for his knowledge, skills, legal analysis and proven strategies."
"Dan Smith is an excellent lawyer who truly cares for his clients. I endorse him."
"I endorse Daniel. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community."
"I endorse this lawyer.An extremely motivated, honest, caring, and intelligent attorney who works hard for the clients rights. He keeps up with the law by attending law seminars on a regular basis. I wholeheartedly recommend this attorney."
"Mr. Smith is an exemplary attorney. I would refer anyone and everyone to him on a regular basis. Despite the fact that I have been a judge, magistrate, prosecutor, and private attorney for over 24 years, I continue to learn from him daily from his Avvo posts. I would recommend that you hire him in an instant."
"Mr. Smith is an excellent attorney! He has a wonderful court presence and a very professional demeanor. He is a very experienced attorney with a great reputation in the legal community. I highly endorse his work."
"Daniel is an outstanding advocate for his clients."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer. I have known Dan for more than 20 years. He is a strong and zealous advocate for the rights of defendants. Thus I highly recommend him."
"I met Mr. Smith while I was an intern at the Chula Vista, CA courthouse. Mr. Smith taught me the proper way to present myself to the court, not just the rote, what to say, but more importantly how to say it. Every case I had the pleasure of watching Mr. Smith work on highlighted his care for his clients, respect for the profession, and excellence as an attorney. I highly recommend Dan Smith."
"Attorney Daniel Smith is an excellent criminal defense attorney in both federal and state courts. His knowledge of the law and keen ability to apply the facts of any given criminal case yields results for his clients that are unmatched in our local criminal justice system. I routinely refer all of my federal clients to Attorney Smith because I know they will be treated properly, both as people and criminal defendants. I would recommend anyone looking for a skilled and compassionate criminal defense attorney to hire Attorney Daniel Smith"
"Mr. Smith is a hard working criminal defense attorney who puts his client's needs first."
"I endorse this lawyer. Dan is one of the finest lawyers in the county."
"I have known Dan Smith professionally for 20 years. He is a consummate professional. I endorse him without reservation"
Susan Margolis
Litigation lawyer
Richard Barnett
Criminal defense lawyer
Samuel Spital
Criminal defense lawyer
Peter Liss
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Michael Crowley
Criminal defense lawyer
Donald Drewry
DUI and DWI lawyer
Okorie Okorocha
DUI and DWI lawyer
Christopher Morales
Criminal defense lawyer
Riccardo Ippolito
Criminal defense lawyer
Robert Weig
Personal injury lawyer
George Aldrich
Criminal defense lawyer
Michael Stuart
Criminal defense lawyer
James Dippery
General practice lawyer
Kerry Armstrong
Criminal defense lawyer
Keith Rutman
Criminal defense lawyer
Vincent Ross
Criminal defense lawyer
Bradley Corbett
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Michael McCabe
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David Baker
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Tracy Nation
Litigation lawyer
Experience
Honors
2019
Top 100 Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers
2019
Best Lawyer (DUI), Expertise
2018
Top 100 Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers
2017
Top 100 Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers
2016
Top 100 Trial Lawyers, National Trial Lawyers
2016
Best DUI Lawyers in San Diego, Expertise
1989
American Jurisprudence Award - Trial Practice, American Jurisprudence
Work Experience
2011 - Present
Founder Supervising Attorney, San Diego Defenders, APC
2011 - Present
Supervising Attorney, DS Criminal Law Group
2010 - 2011
Lead Trial Attorney, United Trial Group APC
2008 - 2010
Lead Trial Attorney South Bay District, Pacific Law Center, San Diego, Ca
1993 - 2008
Trial Attorney, Law Offices of Daniel M. Smith
1992 - 1993
Trial Lawyer, Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc.
Associations
2011 - Present
California DUI Lawyers AssociationMember
2011 - Present
DUI Defense Lawyers AssociationMember
2008 - Present
California Public Defenders AssociationMember
1991 - Present
National Association of Criminal Defense LawyersMember
1991 - Present
California Attorneys for Criminal JusticeMember
1991 - Present
American Bar Associationmember
1991 - Present
State Bar of ArizonaMember
1990 - Present
State Bar of CaliforniaMember
1990 - Present
San Diego Bar AssociationMember
1997 - 1999
Gaslamp Association Board of DirectosBoard Member
Sample of Legal Cases
United States v. Juan Labrada-Padilla 17-CR-2239-LAB
Not Guilty by Jury Trial
United States v. Solis-Bobadilla
Plea to Title 21 Section 834(b) Telephone Count with a 48 month maximum
People v. Bradley Austin Smith
Voluntary manslaughter w/knife 12 year determinite sentence
People v. Jose Garcia
Determinate Sentence of 22 years
People v. Marquez
Jury Trial - Not Guilty Verdict
Underage DUI with high BAC
Dry Reckless Driving VC 23103 - Avoided up to 6 months in jail and dismissal of Navy applicaion
Education
1990
California Western School of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
1988
Arizona State University
BS - Bachelor of Science
Speaking Engagements
2014
Chula Vista City Council Debate
Chula Vista City Council
2014
Chula Vista City Council Debate
Candidates Square Off
2013
Guest Lecturer - Government
Criminal Procedure - Case Study
2010
Public Interest Law Foundation Conference
Starting your Criminal Defense Career as a Federal Public Defender
2009
Dateline NBC with Natalie Ramirez
School Bomb Prankster Strikes a Deal
Publications
2014
Blurb Publications
Judge's Top Secret Guide to Beating a DUI
2013
2012
ABC News 20/20
Classroom Confidential
2009
Union Tribune
Lesser charges for star student in bomb prank
2009
NBC News
School Bomb Prankster Strikes a Deal
Languages
English
Spanish
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Guides
Legal Answers
Q&A
Will the judge convict a dui with child endangerment charge if the person was past out in the car and child in the back?
13 Jul 2017
Q&A
Will I be denied to join the the military because of a dui my blood ACL. Was 0.01
16 Jun 2017
Q&A
Can I get my statutory rape felony expunged?
23 Mar 2012
Legal Guides
Video Legal Guide
CBP Asset Forfeiture of Vehicle - Election of Proceedings Difference Between Petition and Claim
15 May 2020
Legal Guide
San Diego Attorney Warns Border Travelers of ‘Blind Mule’ Scams
21 Jul 2019
Legal Guide
San Diego DUI Defense Lawyers Warn Against Drinking and Driving During the Holiday Season
29 Mar 2011