Overall Rating
This is an aggregated review score of Avvo and Lawyers.com reviews.
This is an aggregated review score of Avvo and Lawyers.com reviews.
5.0 /5.0
23 Client Reviews
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Ronald Michael Cordova
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About Ronald
Biography
Drawing on his wealth of experience as a former California state legislator and Orange County deputy district attorney, Ron Cordova has achieved outstanding results in even the most difficult and challenging cases. Ron has represented clients in 34 states and the District of Columbia as well as several foreign countries and has tried more than 150 cases in state and federal courts throughout the United States. He has been selected as a Southern California SuperLawyer in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 and has been named by OC Metro Magazine as one of Orange County's top five criminal defense attorneys every year since 2009. Time Magazine and Newsweek Magazine have also recognized Ron Cordova as one of the best criminal defense attorneys nationwide. Despite his national prominence, Ron devotes his personal attention to every client. When you need an experienced lawyer who will represent you with skill, vigor and respect, contact Ron Cordova.
Ron Cordova understands that even good people sometimes find themselves in bad situations.
Ron Cordova understands that even good people sometimes find themselves in bad situations.
Practice Areas
2
Practice Areas
Criminal Defense
70%
47 years | 2,350 cases
Federal Crime
30%
47 years | 325 cases
Fees and Rates
Cost
Hourly Rates
$ 550-650 per hour
Retainer
Always
Payment Methods
- Check
- Credit Card
Awards
Licenses
Licensed in California for 53 years
State: California
Acquired: 1972
No misconduct found
Location
Ron Cordova Attorney at Law
(949) 748-3888
Fax
16520 Bake Pkwy, Suite 280, Irvine, CA, 92618
roncordovalaw.com/Online Presence
Other places you can find Ronald online.
Ronald Michael Cordova's Reviews
Showing 1 - 5 of 22 client reviews from Avvo
Posted by anonymous | July 1, 2025 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Best in the business
Ron Cordova is absolutely the best of the best. He went above and beyond. When he says he’ll get something done he means it. I would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone. Thank you, Ron! You are priceless!
Posted by anonymous | January 16, 2025 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Best Criminal Defense Attorney Out There
I am so grateful for Ron. I mean it when I say you will not find better representation. Ron is a legal eagle, ace at the case, hole-in-one hotshot. My mom is an Orange County attorney, so I could have had free representation. Growing up with her, I am highly capable, even of representing myself. T...
Posted by Adam | July 23, 2024 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Amazing Lawyer - Would Hire Again
I am a medical professional and found myself in unexpected legal trouble that had the potential to either ruin or greatly impact my career. I had never had to hire a lawyer before and was intimidated my inability to tell the quality of one lawyer from another online. After speaking with Mr. Cordova a...
Posted by Mike | January 9, 2024 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Highly Recommended.
Ron Cordova, Attorney at Law, helped me, during a difficult time in my life. I was arrested for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I felt that the police used heavy handed tactics. A conviction can cost you your job, and also affect future employment opportunities. I needed an attorney w...
Posted by anonymous | March 27, 2023 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Very Kind and Professional
He helped me through a very difficult case being from out of state I would recommend him to anyone in the southern California area.
Ronald Michael Cordova's Lawyer Endorsements
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse Ronald. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community."
"I have known Ron since 1974, a span of 37 years. And "no", I am not that old. I was privileged to serve an externship under Ron's supervision while I attended UCI and observe his skills first-hand while he was with the Orange County District Attorney's Office. After serving a term in the California Assembly in the 1970s, Ron returned to the practice of law, focusing on both state and federal criminal practice, primarily in tough complex cases. But Ron has also always maintained a family law practice, in which his trial skills allow him to excel. In addition to my educational and professional experiences with Ron, during his Assembly campaign, he purchased his campaign printing from the family business launched by my mother and still operated by my brother. They extended credit hesitantly, as losing candidates rarely pay. Though Ron was a long-shot, he won. And he paid his bill. I heartily and enthusiastically recommend Ron, for reasons both professional and personal."
"I endorse this lawyer. Ron was opposing counsel on 2 of my cases in the past 2 years, and I have found Ron to be a very knowledgeable and strong, effective advocate for his clients, while also maintaining a high level of professionalism that earned my respect. Ron is one of those attorneys that you know you need to be prepared to litigate against, while also knowing that he will act in a professional, ethical manner that makes the case strictly a matter of legal and factual argument, which is what the practice of law should be all about."
"Unquestionably competent, consistently conscientious, endlessly hardworking, always helpful, and highly dedicated, it is well-known this exceptional lawyer is an excellent trial attorney who is a tremendous asset to Orange County's Defense Bar community. Any person in need who hires this superb attorney will know he or she is in capable hands. For a number of positive reasons, I am honored to endorse Mr. Cordova."
"Ron is one of the premier criminal defense attorneys in the country. If I were ever in trouble, he would definitely be one of the first people I called. Highly recommended!"
"I endorse this lawyer's work. Having had the pleasure of bearing witness to Mr. Cordova's skills in the trial courts of Southern California, I can honestly say he is without peer among the criminal defense attorneys in the Golden State of California."
"I have worked with Ron Cordova on a number of criminal defense cases that could be characterized as "extremely difficult" in nature. Both cases involved high-profile clients and involving very difficult factual and legal issues. In both cases and in frequent communication over the past decade I have never ceased to be very impressed by the intellect and quick thinking of this fine lawyer. I look forward to future cases where I might have the honor of working with him again."
Earl Wallace
Landlord or tenant lawyer
Allyson Rudolph
Criminal defense lawyer
Gerald Maggio
Family lawyer
Richard Wagner
Criminal defense lawyer
McCracken Poston
Criminal defense lawyer
Experience
Honors
2025
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2025
Southern California Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers
2025
Preeminent Lawyer, Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
2024
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2024
Southern California Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers
2024
Doctorate Honoris Causa, University of Pecs, Hungary School of Law
2024
Preeminent Lawyer, Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
2023
Preeminent Lawyer, Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
2023
Southern California Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers
2023
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2022
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2022
Southern California Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers
2022
Preeminent Lawyer, Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
2021
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2021
Southern California Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers
2021
Preeminent Lawyer, Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
2020
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2020
Southern California Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers
2020
Preeminent Lawyer, Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
2019
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2019
Southern California Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers
2019
Preeminent Lawyer, Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
2018
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2018
Southern California Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers
2018
Preeminent Lawyer, Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
2017
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2017
Preeminent Lawyer, Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
2017
Southern California Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers
2016
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2016
Southern California Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers
2016
Preeminent Lawyer, Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
2015
Southern California Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers
2015
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2015
Preeminent Lawyer, Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
2015
Top Five Criminal Lawyers in Orange County, OC Metro Magazine
2014
Preeminent Lawyer, Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
2014
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2014
Top Five Criminal Lawyers in Orange County, OC Metro Magazine
2014
Southern California Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers
2013
Nationwide Top Attorneys, Newsweek Magazine
2013
Top Five Criminal Lawyers in Orange County, OC Metro Magazine
2013
Preeminent Lawyer, Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
2012
Leading Criminal Defense Attorneys, Newsweek Magazine
2012
Preeminent Lawyer, Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
2012
Top Five Criminal Lawyers in Orange County, OC Metro Magazine
2011
Southern California Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers
2011
Top Five Criminal Lawyers in Orange County, OC Metro Magazine
2011
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2011
Preeminent Lawyer, Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
2011
Nationwide Top Attorneys, Newsweek Magazine
2010
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2010
Preeminent Lawyer, Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
2010
Top Five Criminal Lawyers in Orange County, OC Metro Magazine
2010
Southern California Super Lawyer Law & Politics Magazine, SuperLawyers
2009
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2009
Top Five Criminal Lawyers in Orange County, OC Metro Magazine
2009
Southern California Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers
2009
Preeminent Lawyer, Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
2008
Southern California Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers
2008
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2007
Preeminent Lawyer, Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
2007
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2007
Southern California Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers
2007
Preeminent Lawyer, Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
1978
Outstanding Young Men of America, US Jaycees
1977
Outstanding Young Men of America, US Jaycees
Work Experience
2013 - Present
Visiting Professor of Comparative Law, University of Maribor, Slovenia
2010 - Present
Visiting Professor of Comparative Law, University of Pecs, Hungary School of Law
1979 - Present
Attorney, the Law Office of Ron Cordova
1981 - 1983
Adjunct Professor, the University of California, Irvine
1976 - 1978
Member of the State Assembly, The California Legislature
1975 - 1977
Adjunct Professor, the University of California, Irvine
1973 - 1976
Deputy District Attorney, the Orange County District Attorney's Office
Associations
2006 - Present
Newport Harbor Bar Associationmember
1979 - Present
Orange County Bar Associationmember
1972 - Present
California Bar Associationmember
Sample of Legal Cases
State vs. Clara Marsh (06CR22209); State vs. LaShea Marsh (06CR22210), Walker (Georgia) Superior Court
All charges dismissed
State vs. Tommy Ray-Brent Marsh (03CR20884,03CR20885,03CR20886,03CR20887), Walker (Georgia) Superior Court
Negotiated plea (after Supreme Court ruling)
Education
1972
USC Law School
JD (law)
1968
University of Stockholm
post-graduate studies
1967
Dartmouth College
BA - Bachelor of Arts
N/A
Trinity College, Dublin
junior year abroad
Speaking Engagements
2013
Visiting Professor, University of Maribor (Slovenia)
American Criminal Law
2013
Visiting Professor, Masaryk University (Brno, Czech Republic)
The Development of Criminal Law in Common Law Jurisdictions
2013
Visiting Professor of Comparative Law, University of Pecs (Hungary)
American Criminal Law
2012
Visiting Professor of Comparative Law, University of Pecs (Hungary)
American Criminal Law
2012
Visiting Professor of Comparative Law, Eotvos Lorand University (Budapest, Hungary)
The Development of Criminal Law in Common Law Jurisdictions
2011
Visiting Professor, University of Maribor (Slovenia)
American Criminal Law
2011
Visiting Professor of Comparative Law, University of Pecs (Hungary)
American Criminal Law
2010
Visiting Professor of Comparative Law, University of Pecs (Hungary)
American Criminal Law
2010
Visiting Professor of Comparative Law, Eotvos Lorand University (Budapest, Hungary)
The Development of Criminal Law in Common Law Jurisdictions
2010
International Criminal Law Symposium, Nicolas Copernicus University (Torun, Poland)
Miranda in the Post-September 11th Context
2009
Visiting Professor of Comparative Law, University of Debrecen (Hungary)
American Criminal Law
2009
Visiting Professor of Comparative Law, Nicolaus Copernicus University (Torun, Poland)
The Development of Criminal Law in Common Law Jurisdictions
2008
Visiting Professor of Comparative Law, University of Szeged (Hungary)
Trial Tactics Seminar
Publications
1977
California District Attorneys Association - Prosecutor's Brief
The California State Bar and Parkinson's Law
1975
Orange County Bar Association
In re Yurko: Portent or Anomaly?
Languages
German
Spanish
Swedish