William C. Makler

Mr. Makler is an extremely knowledgable and experienced attorney. He cares about his clients. He always made a point to respond to me very promptly, as did his team. Mr. Makler knows the ins and outs of the local judicial system given his vast experience in the area. From the beginning, Bill said tha...t he doesn't plan on settling for a quick outcome. He said that he is going to take as long as he needs in order to ensure the best outcome for my case. Saved my life with the best possible outcome and I'm forever grateful. Additionally, his team, Maureen and Maria, spent a great deal explaining things to me with lots of patience and providing me with updates. They were very supportive and caring throughout the process. Can't go wrong with this choice when deciding on choosing your attorney in Santa Barbara. Him and his team are the best.

I was recently arrested for drunk in public, and rightfully so since there is very little I remember of the day. With my reputation at stake and potential loss of freedom I quickly began the search for a good attorney. I selected William C. Makler. Within a day of speaking with him he was able to ge...t my charges dropped. The stress relief in itself was worth every penny. His fees were fair and he gave me a discount because I was a veteran. He clearly knows the law, knows his way around the legal system in Santa Barbara, and has a great deal of experience. It was easy working with him and his office staff and they did everything they said they would do. No question that I made the right choice and I would recommend him to my friends, but I hope I never have to.

Highly recommend! Bill helped me through a DUI case and was ultimately able to get it dismissed. Throughout the process he explained the ongoings and potential outcomes in plain language, made smart decisions on how to proceed and helped me make decisions as to my options when necessary. He is also c...learly well connected in the SB area, knows the ins and outs of the city’s legal system and many of the people involved. His team was very helpful and responsive as well. Overall felt like I was in good hands every step of the way!

I found myself in federal court on a very minor charge with a prosecutor that wanted to hard line me and my friends into a criminal misdemeanor despite having no priors. I searched for lawyers with federal criminal experience and found Bill. I explained to him my situation and that I was bit hard on ...money. It is evident that he cares about all his clients. He took me on at a more than fair rate and handled the case wonderfully. He was responsive, patient, never too busy for me, and gave very useful, straightforward, and frank advice. None of that pandering, you-like-to-hear kind of stuff. Very blunt but kind and patient. I am lucky to have had him in my corner. I highly, highly recommend him. A professional man through and through. It ended up panning out in our favor in the end somewhat unrelated to his efforts, but having to help guide me and understand the criminal court game (federal, no less) was instrumental. Before ending up with an adequate plea deal, we were gearing up to fight the case, and Bill was incredibly perceptive and straightforward when it came to considering different strategies.

My history with Bill dated back to 2012, when I was charged with a misdemeanor as an undergrad at UCSB. Because of the nature of my case, I chose to enter a plea bargain. Bill helped me with the entire process. He was patient with my questions and he advised me as needed to make the best decision. My... favorite quality about him was the promptness in his responses. While I cannot reverse the mistake that I made 8 years ago, I have been actively trying to move forward. Recently in 2020, I consulted him again regarding a last-minute question about a court request that I self-filed years ago--I was stressed because of employment implications and the need to disclose my past criminal record. Not only did Bill reply within an hour on a weekday evening, but he also offered to verify my records, scan me the old court records, and counsel me on how to move forward with my employment. He did this all based on our past professional relationship, even when I had not spoken to him in over 6 years. I am grateful for Bill's help and support. I will recommend him wholeheartedly to anyone in the community. He exudes a human-quality that separates him from just being another professional.