Richard Howard Layon

Richard Howard Layon

also known as Rick Layon

3.0
Rating: 10.0

Licensed for 34 years

Criminal defense Lawyer at Vista, CA
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense, Child Abuse, DUI & DWI ... +2 more

217 Civic Center Drive,, Suite 6, Vista, CA

About Richard

Practice Areas

5

Practice Areas

Fees and Rates

We have not found any cost information for this lawyer


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Licenses

Licensed in California for 34 years

State: California

Acquired: 1991

Active

No misconduct found

Location

Law Offices of Richard H. Layon

217 Civic Center Drive,, Suite 6, Vista, CA, 92084

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Richard Howard Layon's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

3.0 /5.0

6 Client Reviews

5 star (3)
4 star (0)
3 star (0)
2 star (0)
1 star (3)

Posted by anonymous | July 30, 2025 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Criminal

All this man cares about is money. He has no ethics or morals, and cares nothing for people he represents. I don’t know how he sleeps at night but by the look of his purple skin and broken capillaries drinking might be how he copes with the things he does to people.

Posted by Scott W | October 18, 2022 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Rick has been great to deal with!!

I hired Rick to defend my son in a case relatively frivolous case alleging abuse of a cell phone, which was paid for by me and with insurance. Rick was and is great to work with, very responsive and helpful. I highly recommend Rick for any criminal legal situation you may be involved with.

Posted by anonymous | February 7, 2020 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Excellent Attorney!

Rick just represented us in a very complex and difficult case. He is an exceptional and extremely knowledgeable attorney. Rick’s trial skills are second to none. His tenacious cross examination left no stone unturned and was key to winning the case. Rick is honest, trustworthy to the core an...d spent countless hours on our case. Without a doubt we would highly recommend Rick if you need an attorney.

Posted by Kevin | November 14, 2019 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Do not hire this Attorney

I paid Rick 45,000 to help me with my case. This money we were told would be ALL that was needed to get through our trial.(Rick assured my wife that this would be it because we were really struggling with all of this court stuff lingering over us.) Well if going to trial wasn't enough stress, on day ...2 of my trial Rick looks at me and says "well it looks like your trial MIGHT go another week, I'm gonna need an extra 17,500 by close of business Friday." When I told Rick I didn't have that money and I would need more time to sell some assets, he litterally flipped out on me. He stopped communicating during trial and CANCELLED 10 of my 13 witnesses that were drastically needed to win. (According to 4 other TOP criminal defense lawyers I spoke with to find out what to do) These other Attorneys ALL said the same thing. "It looks like your Attorney intentionally abandoned you during your trial." This should (to me) be enough to disbar an Attorney, but Layon is still taking money from clients and I get to live with my multiple convictions and loss of my family for the rest of my life. Do yourself a favor... Use another Attorney. Find one with pride in there work, they are out there. I met a few of them and they really tried hard to fix what Layon had destroyed, but it was just to late.

Posted by anonymous | November 4, 2019 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Spent $3500 and got nothing for it

All Rick did for me was ask for more money. Every time I went to court he set another date with court. It was postponed 5 times. Then he went and said he would not be my attorney if I did Not pay him more money.i agreed to pay him payments but he would not do that. I was then forced to have a pub...lic defender. I asked got my 3500 back he refused to give me any money back. Because of him I'm worse off. I gave him all the money I had to defend me. He just was trying to get as much money as he could from me then did not represent me. That's wrong what he did to me. I feel he owes me money back from the $3500.i gave him to represent me. He will not do that. Be carefully so this doesn't happen to you. I thought Rick would help me and I can make payments to h*m above the 3500 i already gave him. But he would not accept. He kept the 3500 and would not represent me. Wow.hope he doesn't do that to anyone else. Did not care at all about my situation at all .left me hanging. Had to get public defender. I wish he was honest with me from the beginning instead of accepting my $3,500 and then ask in for more and then not even helping.

See All Client Reviews

Richard Howard Layon's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Richard
Brad Michael Micklin headshot
Brad Micklin

Administrative law lawyer | Jan 02

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Richard Layon is an experienced attorney whose participation and comments in Avvo show his commitment to serving clients as well as his level of experience. He is an excellent attorney that I recommend wholeheartedly."

James Nelson Dicks headshot
James Dicks

Criminal defense lawyer | Dec 03

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in 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."

Kenneth Francis Matejka headshot
Kenneth Matejka

Criminal defense lawyer | Jan 09

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

James Robert Fox headshot
James Fox

Criminal defense lawyer | Jun 07

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Rick Layon is the consumate professional. He is knowledgable, helpful, and always willing to share his knowledge and experience. Moreover, he just a nice guy. I have watched him in the court room, and while he is respectful of other lawyers and judges, he nevers backs down from a fight. The difference is he will win his case with a smile if he can, but if that doesn't work, well, lets just say I would not want to be on the opposing side. Mr. Layon is deserving of my highest recommendation, and I am glad to offer it."

View All Endorsements
William Lewis Wolfe headshot
William Wolfe

Criminal defense lawyer

Experience

Rating:  10.0 (Superb)

Honors

2016

Top 100 Trial Lawyers/Criminal Defense, National Trial Lawyers

2015

Client Satisfaction Award, American Institute of DUI/DWI Attorneys

2015

William R. Fletcher Award, San Diego North County Bar Association

Work Experience

2007 - Present

Owner, Law Offices of Richard H. Layon

2005 - 2007

Partner, Liberty Lawyers LLP.

1995 - 2005

Partner, Layon & Holck LLP.

1991 - 1995

Partner, Knoblock & Layon

1988 - 1990

Legal Intern, San Diego County District Attorney

Associations

State Bar of California

Member

San Diego County Bar Association

Member

San Diego North County Bar Association

Member

California Public Defenders Association

Member

California Attorneys for Criminal Justice

Member

Consumer Attorneys of San Diego

Member

2015 - 2018

San Diego County Bar Association

Director

2005 - 2005

San Diego North County Bar Association, Lawyer refereral Services

President

2002 - 2002

San Diego North County Bar Association

President

1998 - 1998

San Diego North County Bar Association, Criminal Law Section

Chair

1997 - 2015

San Diego North County Bar Association, Lawyers Referal Service

Director

Education

1990

Willamette University College of Law in Salem

JD - Juris Doctor

1985

California State University, San Diego

BS - Bachelor of Science

Speaking Engagements

2012

MCLE

Litigating Protective Orders

2012

MCLE

Litigating Contempt Cases

2011

MCLE

Litigating Protective Orders

2011

MCLE

Litigating Contempt Cases

Publications

2000

North County Lawyer Magazine Editor

2000

North County Lawyer Magazine U.S. V. LOMBERA-CAMORLINGA; WILL THE FUTURE OF THE VIENNA CONVENTION FOLLOW THE GIRDLE OR GOLDBERG

1999

North County Lawyer Magazine ET TU BRUTON ”; THE VIABILITY OF

1998

North County Lawyer Magazine RUMINATIONS RE JIGS, FEATHERS AND THE SIXTH AMENDMENT, THE DEATH KNELL OF

1998

North County Lawyer Magazine ROJAS IN THE MIST, CLEARING THE AIR SURROUNDING CUSTODY CREDITS

1997

North County Lawyer Magazine DEFENSE DISCOVERY POST PROP. 115

1997

North County Lawyer Magazine GENERALLY INTENDING A SPECIFIC RESULT

Languages

Spanish

English

Avvo Rating

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