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Diane Therese Letarte

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Avvo Rating9.6
  • San Diego, CA
  • Licensed for 23 years
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About Diane

Criminal Defense attorney mostly in the area of Post-Conviction law helping inmates.

 

This includes Lifer Parole Hearings and Appeals from the Board of Parole Hearings across 35 State Prison in all of California..

 

French Canadian Snowbird from Montreal that landed in San Diego in 1979 and never left Beautiful city of San Diego!

Practice areas

AppealsCriminal defense
  1. Criminal defense: 75%

    Lifer Suitability hearing - BPH Post conviction, P36 Three Strikes (Re-sentencing)

  2. Appeals: 25%

    Writs from Lifer Parole Hearing

Languages spoken

French, Spanish, English

Photos and videos

258416 1364281339

Contact

1080 Park Blvd Unit 1008
San Diego, CA, 92101

Resume

License
StateStatusAcquiredUpdated
DCGood Standing199802/22/2021
FLInactive199810/11/2021
CAActive199711/07/2021
We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.
Avvo Contributions
Legal answers11
Legal guides2
Awards
Award nameGrantorDate granted
Attorney of the MonthAttorney Journal2013
Judge Pro tem ContributionJudge Advocates Association2012
Distinguished Service AwardSan Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program2000
Service AwardNorth County Bar AssociationN/A
Work Experience
TitleCompany nameDuration
Attorney - OwnerLaw Office of Diane T. Letarte1998 - Present
InternshipVista Public Defender's Office2002 - 2002
Associations
Association namePosition nameDuration
San Diego Bar AssociationMember2000 - Present
North County Bar AssociationMember1999 - Present
Lawyers Club of San Diego (North County chapter)Former PresidentN/A
Lawyers Club of San Diego (North County chapter)President2005 - 2006
Publications
Publication nameTitleDate
Private informal tips documentTips for inmate2011
Education
School nameDegreeGraduated
Walden UniversityMS - Master of Science2011
University of San Diego School of LawLL.M - Master of Laws2002
Thomas Jefferson School of LawJD - Juris Doctor1996
University of RedlandsMBA - Master of Business Administration1991
Florida Atlantic UniversityBA - Bachelor of Arts1979
Speaking Engagements
Conference nameTitleDate
TIME WARNER - StudioMarsy's Law and its Impact2011
LIFER FAIRLIFER SEMINAR - Prison2011
California Central Appellate Seminar CCAPLifer Parole Hearing - Making a record2011
Families of the Incarcerated at LA ChurchLifer Parole Hearings - free Seminar2010
Legal cases
Case nameOutcome
Fitz v. NCR Corp., 118 Cal. App. 4th 702.Employee Procedural win impacting ALL NCR California employee.

Reviews

(30)5.0 stars
5 Star
93%
4 Star
7%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Review Diane Letarte

Renegade Comes Through Again!

5.0 stars

Posted by

Diane Letarte has been working for my loved one since 2015. She skillfully took his case to Los Angeles in 2016 where she had LWOP removed from his life sentence. She relentlessly fought for his freedom and thoroughly navigated him through the successful granting of his parole last month by the commissioners in his Board of Parole Hearing even in the middle of this deadly pandemic over zoom videos! My loved one has been incarcerated for 26 years!!! He is coming home before Christmas now and I can't thank Diane and Yolanda enough for helping us ( and putting up with my whiny phone calls) ! She's the BEST ever! OUR MOST GRATEFUL THANKS AND APPRECIATION!
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Hired attorney

Client

5.0 stars

Posted by

Very happy she did a great job excellent a lawyer very satisfied personal I recommend Diane Therese Letarte
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

2 for 2 on Helping Us Get our Family Home

5.0 stars

Posted by

We first hired Ms Letarte for one of our family members 3 years ago or so. Then hired her again for a different family member this year. Both times our family members were found suitable for release. Both were given life sentences and with the help of Ms Letarte both have another chance at living a life outside of prison walls. Thanks once again and we highly recommend her services.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

True Professionalism and Successful

5.0 stars

Posted by

Ms Letarte: Me and my family cant express enough how grateful we are for Ms. Letarte's service!! My brother was sentenced to 25 to Life, it seemed hopeless to think that he would ever come out. Ms. Letarte was referred to us by a family that had a family member doing life and was granted parole with the help of Ms. Letarte, long story short Ms. Letarte was direct and moved swiftly in reviewing my brothers case and made the impossible possible. Ms. Letarte's staff team was also awesome in their professionalism and swift to respond to matters. My brother is now coming home thanks to Ms. Letarte and her team, we will forever be grateful for her services. If you have a family member that needs professional help I'm telling you that YOU CAN NOT GO WRONG BY HIRING Ms. Letarte!!!!! Thank you Ms. Letarte!!!
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Mother

5.0 stars

Posted by

I would like to express , my thanks to Diane T and Yolanda navarro, with out their help and working hard to get my son home. They are the best in what they do . they fight very hard for your family. Am telling everyone i know about them, thank you so much, Lydia V. Carbajal
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

Navigate a successful parole

5.0 stars

Posted by

Diane Letarte has been invaluable in preparing my son for his parole. She has constructively guided us in the path of what is needed by the inmate to be successful in his parole appearance. Diane was hired, she in California, my son in a Midwest state, but governed by the State of California. Negotiating a long distance parole has been challenging as these two states run on different programs, expectations, what is offered for jobs, libraries, programs. Diane and her team, Thank you Yolanda, coached him, found programs for him to participate in and knew what needed to be done. Taking accountability is a high priority for Diane's clients and she knows this is one of the biggest pluses when going before the parole board. It is abundantly clear she knows what her job and performance means to her clients and their family. After the second parole hearing we were successful...Diane and staff...we thank you for helping us and paving the way for our son to come home. My personal opinion? You could not find a better firm to help you with your legal defense.
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Hired attorney

Best b.p.h. lawyer in the country

5.0 stars

Posted by

I was a difficult person to defend in a hearing and Diane was awesome. After 13 hearings with other attorneys she got me out. Then she went on to get my special child out who is the love of my life. No other attorney is even close for b.p.h. hearings
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

Best lawyer we ever used

5.0 stars

Posted by

Our family would like to thank Mrs latartte for all her help she is a wonderful lawyer God Bless you and your work
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

Job well done

5.0 stars

Posted by

My husband and I can’t thank Ms. Letarte enough for doing such a wonderful job representing at my husband’s Board of Parole Hearing. Her level of professionalism and knowledge of the process is beyond measure. We couldn’t be more pleased. Thank you, Ms. Letarte. Warmest regards, J & T L.
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Hired attorney

A million Thank You's

5.0 stars

Posted by

My husband had a life sentence and after 40 years of being locked up and denied parole several times, I contacted Attorney LeTarte. Her and her staff went above and beyond to help my husband. First there was a suitability hearing and he was found suitable....but then the Governor said no. I contacted Attorney Letarte again and she was on his case right away, flew to his En Banc hearing and now my Husband is coming home! She is absolutely amazing, dedicated, sincere and well educated. Her staff is amazing too. If you want a fighting chance I suggest you hire her. Thank you Diane, Yolanda and the rest of the staff for your hard work and sincere dedication to helping men and women get back home to their families.
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Attorney endorsements

(5)
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Lawyer Jamie Sprenger

Jamie Sprenger, Appeals Attorney on Mar 28, 2017
Relationship: Worked for lawyer

I had the pleasure of working with Diane when I was a new attorney in California. She was an inspiring mentor and remarkable lawyer. Her passion for justice and for her clients is truly one of a kind. Lawyers have a bad reputation for being money hungry, but Diane is the polar opposite of this stereotype - putting "the cause" as number one, and being willing to sacrifice everything for her clients. If only all lawyers could be as dedicated, passionate, and selfless as Diane.

Lawyer James Nelson Dicks

James Dicks, Criminal defense Attorney on Nov 29, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

This attorney works very hard for the client and keeps up with the law by attending legal seminars to assist them in this regard. I endorse this attorney.

Lawyer Jamie Sprenger

Jamie Sprenger, Appeals Attorney on Mar 28, 2017
Relationship: Worked for lawyer

I had the pleasure of working with Diane when I was a new attorney in California. She was an inspiring mentor and remarkable lawyer. Her passion for justice and for her clients is truly one of a kind. Lawyers have a bad reputation for being money hungry, but Diane is the polar opposite of this stereotype - putting "the cause" as number one, and being willing to sacrifice everything for her clients. If only all lawyers could be as dedicated, passionate, and selfless as Diane.

Lawyer James Nelson Dicks

James Dicks, Criminal defense Attorney on Nov 29, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

This attorney works very hard for the client and keeps up with the law by attending legal seminars to assist them in this regard. I endorse this attorney.

Lawyer Michael Shemtoub

Michael Shemtoub, Appeals Attorney on Sep 30, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

Your resume speaks for itself and I consider you a valuable member of the attorney community. I would recommend you to anyone and everyone who needs your services. I whole heartedly endorse this lawyer!

Lawyer C. C. Abbott

C. Abbott, Appeals Attorney on Jul 3, 2013
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

I endorse this lawyer. Attorney Letarte has dedicated her career to assisting a population within our community that needs zealous advocacy. A true professional.

Lawyer Serena Faye Salinas

Serena Salinas, Appeals Attorney on Jul 2, 2013
Relationship: Worked for lawyer

I work under the guidance of Ms. Letarte in the area of parole suitability hearings. I gravitated to her because of her extensive knowledge and experience in the field. Her bright personality and honesty is refreshing, making her one of my favorite attorneys to work with.

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