Elena Smolina

Elena Smolina

4.9
Rating: 7.5

Licensed for 7 years

Family Lawyer at San Diego, CA
Practice Areas: Family, Litigation

San Diego Divorce and Family Law Attorney, 12520 High Bluff Drive Suite 240, San Diego, CA

About Elena

Biography

Practice Areas

2

Practice Areas

Fees and Rates

Cost

Retainer

Always


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

Looking for an attorney? Avvo can help.

search module image

Search our directory

Quickly connect with top attorneys through our legal directory to get help with your legal issue.

chat module image

Avvo's live chat agents can help coordinate a consultation with a local attorney.

Chat with a live agent who can match you with the right attorney for your legal needs.

Chat with

Licenses

Licensed in California for 7 years

State: California

Acquired: 2018

Active

No misconduct found

Location

Elena Smolina APC

San Diego Divorce and Family Law Attorney, 12520 High Bluff Drive Suite 240, San Diego, CA, 92130

Ad

Transform legal challenges into solutions.

Connect now to review your situation.

The Avvo Rating explained

display-bg

The Avvo Rating explained

Elena Smolina's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.9 /5.0

59 Client Reviews

Showing 1 - 5 of 15 reviews | Family

Posted by Victoria | August 24, 2026

Professional, Knowledgeable, and Compassionate

I had a very positive experience with Elena Smolina. She is professional, responsive and easy to reach. I truly appreciated her patience and the confidence she gave me during our consultation. Her strong knowledge of family law is evident from the clear and strategic advice she gave me. I felt heard... and understood, and the practical guidance she provided was invaluable. I highly recommend Elena Smolina to anyone looking for knowledgeable and reliable family law attorney.

Posted by Inna | July 22, 2026 | Hired Attorney

Compassionate and Strategic

I cannot recommend Elena Smolina, APC highly enough. Going through my divorce has been stressful experiences. I had no knowledge of the legal process and felt completely overwhelmed. From our very first meeting, Elena guided me through every step , explained the legal process in a way I could easily ...understand, answered my question promptly and thoroughly, and always made sure I knew what to expect. What impressed me most was her ability to keep me focused on my long-term goals instead of the emotions or fears. Whenever I felt frustrated or overwhelmed, she helped me step back, look at the bigger picture, and make decisions that would benefit my future rather than simply react to the moment. That perspective proved invaluable! She also demonstrated exceptional judgment in managing my case efficiently. Rather than encouraging unnecessary conflict or costly litigation, she focused on practical, well-reasoned solutions. She was always mindful of legal costs and helped me budget wisely throughout the process. With the support of the entire Elena Smolina APC team, including the excellent paralegal staff, I was able to keep my legal expenses under control while still feeling fully supported. Thanks to Elena’s experience and outstanding negotiation skills, we reached an agreement without unnecessary litigation, saving me considerable time, stress, and expense. I always felt that she genuinely had my best interests at heart. She truly cares about her clients. I couldn’t have asked for better representation and wholeheartedly recommend Elena Smolina and her firm

Posted by Violeta | January 31, 2026 | Hired Attorney

Thoughtful Family Attorney with Excellent Results

I had the opportunity to personally observe the work of attorney Elena Smolina in a family law case. She carefully analyzed each fact, had a very thoughtful and professional approach, and knew how to use all available information in the best interest of her client while fully following the law. Th...e outcome was excellent — both sides were satisfied and reached an agreement. Her ethics, strong legal knowledge and dedication really stood out. I highly recommend Elena Smolina.

Posted by Nora | October 21, 2025 | Hired Attorney

Excellent experience best family lawyer out there

I was in the middle of a very stressful custody battle with my ex-husband when a good friend recommended Elena Smolina. I was at the point of giving up, but she came in and completely turned things around. Elena is exceptionally knowledgeable in family law and knew exactly what needed to be done. Des...pite having a very limited amount of time to address critical issues, she made significant progress quickly and efficiently. Her communication with the judge and opposing counsel was clear, confident, and respectful, and her calm demeanor brought me so much reassurance throughout the process. Elena was more than just my attorney, she was a genuine source of support and treated me with the utmost kindness and compassion. She truly cared about my children and our situation, and it showed in everything she did. She maintained constant communication, often checking in just to make sure I was doing okay. I highly recommend Elena to anyone in need of a dedicated, compassionate, and highly skilled family law attorney. When I felt unheard in the courtroom, she became my voice. I will be forever grateful for all she has done for me and my family.

Posted by Stephanie | May 29, 2025 | Hired Attorney

Stephanie Castillo

I hired Elena to represent me in family court during my custody battle. She was so empathetic and compassionate to my situation and gave me hope at a time where I was hopeless. She really is such a great lawyer who is so knowledgeable but also goes out of her way to connect with her clients. I’ve kep...t in touch with her over the years and she’s always available. Would definitely recommend her and use her again in the future.

See All Client Reviews

Elena Smolina's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Elena
Case Yousef Kamshad headshot
Case Kamshad

Family lawyer | Feb 20

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. She is a diligent and hard worker. She is very knowledgeable in family law and discovery issues."

Scott L. Neinas headshot
Scott Neinas

Family lawyer | Feb 16

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Elena is an incredibly knowledgable and effective family law attorney. She is sharp, thorough and a great advocate."

Daniel James Martin headshot
Daniel Martin

Family lawyer | Feb 14

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

View All Endorsements
Daniel James Martin headshot
Daniel Martin

Family lawyer

Scott L. Neinas headshot
Scott Neinas

Family lawyer

Experience

Rating:  7.5 (Very Good)

Honors

2019

Wiley W. Manuel Certificate for Pro Bono Legal Services, Wiley W. Manuel

Work Experience

2025 - Present

Partner, Neinas Smolina APC

Associations

2022 - Present

North County Bar Association

Member

2018 - Present

San Diego County Bar Association

Member

Sample of Legal Cases

Defend against Domestic Violence Restraining Order

Favorable to client

Move away request

Favorable

Divorce

favorable to client

See More Legal Cases

Education

N/A

Univ of San Diego SOL

Languages

Russian

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 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