Elena Smolina

Elena Smolina

5.0
Rating: 7.5

Licensed for 7 years

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

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

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Licenses

Licensed in California for 7 years

State: California

Acquired: 2018

Active

No misconduct found

Location

Neinas Smolina APC

12520 High Bluff Drive Suite 240, San Diego, CA, 92130

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Elena Smolina's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

54 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (54) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 1 - 5 of 15 reviews | Communication Style

Posted by Will | March 13, 2026 | Hired Attorney

Outstanding attorney who gets results

Elena Smolina did an exceptional job handling my divorce case. After a lengthy process, she helped secure a favorable final resolution and settlement, demonstrating professionalism, strategy, and persistence. She is highly knowledgeable in family law, especially in military divorce matters, which ...were very important in my case. From the beginning, she gave practical, well-reasoned advice and stayed focused on getting results. In court, she was prepared, confident, and effective. What set Elena apart most was her communication and dedication. She was always prompt in responding to my calls, emails, and text messages, and she followed up after every hearing and court conference with a clear explanation of what happened and what came next. That level of transparency made a very stressful process much easier to manage. Elena also approached my case with real commitment. She was persistent, detail-oriented, and clearly cared about the outcome. She offered cost-conscious options whenever possible and still maintained a strong strategic position throughout. Her ability to speak Russian was also a major advantage, helping me significantly. I highly recommend Elena Smolina to anyone looking for an attorney who is smart, strategic, responsive, compassionate, and truly committed to her clients. I am very grateful for her representation and the outcome she helped me achieve. Especially to any service member, regardless of the case.

Posted by Michelle | November 10, 2025 | Hired Attorney | Divorce & Separation

Elena Smolina is an amazing divorce attorney!

Someone else wrote that Elena deserved 10 stars and I agree! When I found Elena, I had been through 8 months of intense stress as I tried to navigate a contentious divorce basically wearing a blindfold. I was in a bad place emotionally, had no idea what to look for in a divorce attorney, and didn't m...ake a good choice initially. The lawyer I selected did next to nothing, seemed to be spread way too thin, didn't submit required documents to opposing counsel (OC) that I had provided in a timely manner (which could have proven disastrous later on), was a terrible and infrequent communicator, and had established a poor working relationship with my ex's attorney. Time and time again, I inquired about what was happening with the case, and he would reply with, oh, did you submit such and such document or, let me reach out to OC and see where we are. I was nothing more than billable hours for this guy and he seemed to care nothing about my plight or me as a person. When it came to OC submitting a settlement proposal, it became clear that I was getting screwed and it wasn't going to get any better if I didn't cut the dead weight. A friend said I should get a female lawyer because female divorce attorneys fight harder for their clients. I actually asked ChatGPT about it and AI concurred and offer to find me some female divorce attorneys in my area. That is how I found Elena. That afternoon, I had a phone conversation with her and it became immediately apparent that the Yelp reviews I had read about her at her previous firm were legit. She was willing to fight for me, provided me information the other lawyer had neglected to, and gave me hope. The blindfold was off and I fired the loser and hired a winner. She developed a congenial working relationship with OC which made a big difference, quickly completed necessary tasks, was consistent and professional in her communications, kept me up to date on all that was happening and what we could expect to happen. She hired an expert who helped with a tricky separate property claim which was well worth the little bit of money I spent. She was an adept negotiator and had the case wrapped up in 2 months! That's what happens when someone actually does their job. Because of Elena, we didn't have to go to mediation or court and I saved 10s of thousands of dollars as I ended up owing my ex ZERO dollars and ZERO cents!!! And now, we're just waiting for the judge to make it final. I will begin 2026 as a free divorcee thanks to Elena! On top of doing an amazing job, she is also a caring human. She offered to meet me in person to hand-deliver a check from OC. What I though would be a quick exchange turned out to be a surprising yet profound pep talk from someone who had struggled herself. She compassionately gave me suggestions on how to continue healing from the trauma I'd endured and I left feeling validated and bolstered by her kindness. That interaction with her was healing in itself and am just so grateful that she has chosen to help others (especially ME!) go through what is probably one of the most excruciating times in one's life. Now it's your turn - hire Elena and get your life back on track. It's the first day of the rest of your life - call her NOW!

Posted by Nora | October 21, 2025 | Hired Attorney | Child Custody

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 Ande | May 21, 2025 | Divorce & Separation

FINALLY My Saving Grace!!!

If you’re going through a high-conflict divorce—don’t walk, RUN to Elena Smolina. My divorce was an absolute dumpster fire. Three years of emotional warfare, custody battles, financial games, and five different attorneys—two of whom came from highly reputable firms that made big promises and dropp...ed the ball when it really counted. Most firms will treat you like a case file, give you attention up front, and then vanish when the pressure’s on. That was my story… until I found Elena. I wish I had Elena Smolina from the very beginning. Do yourself a favor and don’t make the mistake I did. Skip the expensive disappointment and just hire her. Elena actually cares. She listens. She’s passionate about getting justice for you, not just closing another case. She remembered my birthday. She texted me Happy Mother’s Day when even my own brother didn’t. She treats you like a human being—and fights for you like family. This case was destined for trial. My ex wasn’t budging, and the issues were deep and layered. But in just four months with Elena, we were able to settle—and settle good. That’s because she knows how to communicate with mediators and judges in a way that truly lands. She’s able to take what clients struggle to articulate and frame it powerfully, persuasively, and with compassion. Bottom line: Elena changed the outcome of my life. You only need one attorney, and her name is Elena Smolina.

Posted by Sarah | June 05, 2024 | Hired Attorney | Child Custody

Outstanding Legal Service

I cannot express enough gratitude for the outstanding legal services provided by Elena Smolina and Fair Cadora. From the moment I stepped into their office, I felt reassured and supported during what was undoubtedly one of the most challenging times of my life. Attorney Smolina demonstrated except...ional professionalism, expertise, and compassion throughout the entirety of my child custody case. Their knowledge of family law is unparalleled, and they navigated the complexities of my situation with ease and confidence. Communication was always clear and prompt, ensuring that I was informed and involved every step of the way. Attorney Smolina listened attentively to my concerns, provided sound advice, and devised a strategic plan that ultimately secured a favorable outcome in court. Their dedication to my case went above and beyond my expectations. They were not only my legal representative but also a source of support and encouragement during moments of uncertainty. Thanks to Attorney Smolina, and the rest of the Fair Cadora team, I can now move forward with confidence, knowing that the best interests of my child have been protected. I wholeheartedly recommend Attorney Smolina to anyone in need of expert legal counsel for family law matters. They are truly a five-star attorney in every sense of the word!

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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

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