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About Carl
Biography
Carl R. Gustafson is a Certified Bankruptcy Law Specialist with the California Board of Legal Specialization! In 2003, Carl graduated from UCLA Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelors in History. In 2005, he was a legal intern for Global Justice in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he drafted sections of human rights situation reports and submitted them to the United Nations and other international bodies. He also researched issues of international jurisdiction and the enforcement of international treaties. Carl went on to graduate with honors from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law in 2007, where he was also an associate editor for the Ecological Law Quarterly. It was Carl's yearning to right wrongs and preventing injustice that made law his calling. When Carl lived in Brazil he enjoyed the sights and playing pickup sports on the beach, but he was also witness to a cold reality: one of corruption and injustice. Carl has a passion for consumer rights. "It made me angry to see people get ripped off," said Carl. "I feel like we are hitting the big guys. We are punching back and making them pay for all the bets they thought they wouldn't get caught in." The confidence and ease of Carl is born of experience that is well beyond his years. He started working with bankruptcy in 2003 when he graduated from UCLA. Carl opened the Lincoln Law California offices and focuses his practice exclusively on bankruptcy law in the East Bay area. In August 2011, Carl was a presenter panelist on Practising Law Institute's seminar and webcast "Chapter 13 Bankruptcy: Its Value and How It Benefits Low-Income Debtors."
Contact me!
New Extended Customer Service Hours!
Monday to Friday: 7:00 am-8:00 pm (PST)
Saturday: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm (PST)
Sunday: 9:00 am to 2:00 pm (PST)
Practice Areas
3
Practice Areas
Bankruptcy and Debt
34%
18 years
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
33%
18 years
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
33%
18 years
Fees and Rates
Cost
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in California for 18 years
State: California
Acquired: 2007
No misconduct found
Location
Lincoln Law - Concord
1525 Contra Costa Blvd, Pleasant Hill, CA, 94523
Lincoln Law - Hayward
24301 Southland Drive, Suite 214B, Hayward, CA, 94545
Law Offices of Carl Richard Gustafson
We Also Service, Oakland, CA
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Carl Richard Gustafson's Reviews
Showing 1 - 5 of 28 client reviews from Avvo
Posted by anonymous | October 29, 2025 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Carl and team delivers big
Carl is an amazing attorney who leads his paralegals, admins and support team with amazing professionalism, they are on point, timely, results oriented and they Care about their clients. My Mother who suffered heart issues put me in delay of my submitting my critical paperwork on time.Lincoln law tea...
Posted by anonymous | May 2, 2024 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Excellent service, excellent experience
I had a great experience with these attorneys from start to finish. Everything was automated, I could use my cell phone for most of it. They literally hold your hand and walk you through it as much as you need them too. I won my case and was very satisfied. Was surprisingly affordable compared to mos...
Posted by Nick | March 28, 2023 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Student Loan Discharge
I would give Lincoln Law a 10 Star if available. Carl G. was amazzzzzinnngggggg! He was able to discharge ALL of my student loans. Carl knows the latest regarding this process. I have the utmost confidence that Carl knows the legal ramifications and how to effective proceed forward. I thought I woul...
Posted by Marvin | November 29, 2022 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Amazing lawyer and team
This was the first time I filed for bankruptcy and for a first timer, I thought it'd be difficult and thought it would be scary. Carl and the Lincoln Law team were always available for me to ask them questions along with guide me through the process making it easier on my end. The use of text message...
Posted by Abdelhade | December 17, 2021 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Excellent service
"Great service and very knowledgeable and helpful through the process!" Thank You
Carl Richard Gustafson's Lawyer Endorsements
"Carl is always willing to give his time to get to the bottom of a problem. I respect his knowledge and experience on Bankruptcy. He is exceptional. He has a huge heart and will fight endlessly for his clients."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer. Carl is honest and capable, and it was an honor working with him."
"Aggressive representation and a great attorney. I endorse this lawyer."
"I wish to endorse Carl. Carl maintain the highest standards of integrity and ethics, he is very knowledgeable and work very hard for his clients."
"I endorse Carl Gustafson. He is great resource for bankruptcy information and is willing to answer to questions. He regularly presents for local bar associations and is an expert in his practice area."
"Carl is smart, compassionate and a knowledgeable bankruptcy attorney."
"I endorse this lawyer. Carl Gustafson is a young, energetic and perspicacious bankruptcy attorney in the state of California."
"Carl's work on behalf of clients is excellent."
"I enjoy working with Carl in the bankruptcy field. He properly prepares his cases and is knowledgeable about the law. His clients respect him and he communicates well with them."
"Carl is hardworking and smart. I endorse this lawyer."
"Carl Gustafson is a highly qualified consumer bankruptcy attorney who has a combination of intelligence and compassion that is crucial to helping people through difficult times. I strongly endorse him and the Lincoln Law firm."
"Carl has an uncanny understanding of the bankruptcy code. He is highly qualified, knowledgeable, and methodical in his approach to bankruptcy. He is solution-oriented and his work is of the highest caliber. I can wholeheartedly recommend Carl to those in need of a fresh start."
"Carl has worked with me on a number of cases. His expertise with bankruptcy and other consumer rights has been an enormous benefit to me, and my clients. He has honed in on an area of the law and made it his passion to help those in need."
"In my opinion, Carl is one of the best bankruptcy attorneys in the nation. I often turn to him for counsel in regards to complex bankruptcy matters. His experience is well beyond his years."
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Experience
Honors
2017
Rising Star, SuperLawyers
2014
Rising Star, SuperLawyers
2013
Legal Specialization Board Certified - Bankruptcy, State Bar of California
2012
Top 100 Bankruptcy Firms, Debt Education and Certification Foundation
2007
Honors, UC Berkeley School of Law
2003
Magna Cum Laude, UCLA
Work Experience
2007 - Present
Partner, Lincoln Law
Associations
2016 - Present
Contra Costa County Bar AssociationMember
2011 - Present
National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy AttorneysMember
2008 - Present
American Consumer Bankruptcy CollegeMember
2007 - Present
State Bar of CaliforniaMember
2022 - 2023
Contra Costa CBA Bankruptcy SectionChair
2012 - 2014
Alameda County Bar Association, Bankruptcy SectionVice Chair
2006 - 2007
UC Berkeley Ecological Law QuarterlyAssociate Editor
Sample of Legal Cases
Lucas v. Us Department of Education et al
Settled for $2400, 2% of the outstanding balance.
Heritage Pacific Financial v. Montano
$70,000 Judgment for the Debtor-Defendant
Fidelity National Title Insurance Company v. Gonzalez et al
Judgment for Debtor and $41,745 Settlement to pay Debtor's Attorney Fees
Herrera et al v. EMC Mortgage Corporation et al
$20,000 Settlement to Debtors
Education
2007
University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
2003
University of California - Los Angeles
BA - Bachelor of Arts
Speaking Engagements
2021
Bankruptcy Basics for Low-income Clients
Bankruptcy Basics for Low-income Clients
2019
Practising Law Institute
Bankruptcy Basics for Low-Income Clients 2019
2019
Contra Costa County Bar Association-Bankruptcy Section
Playing with Lightning: The New Chapter 13 Plan
2018
Trial & Error: What Works and What Doesn't with the New Model Chapter 13 Plan
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
2018
Practising Law Institute
Bankruptcy Basics for Low-Income Clients 2018
2017
Pro Bono Symposium
Bankruptcy Basics for Low-Income Clients 2017
2016
PLI Pro Bono
Bankruptcy Basics for Low-income Clients
2015
Bankruptcy Basics for Low-income Clients
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
2014
Practising Law Institute
Bankruptcy Basics for Low-income Clients
2014
Friday Attorney Teleconference
Defending Complaints For Fraud The Montano Case etc.
2014
Alameda County Bar Association
Consumer Bankruptcy Fees: Expand Your Practice
2013
Practising Law Institute
Bankruptcy Basics for Low-Income Clients
2013
ACBC Semi-annual Conference, New Orleans, LA
Statistics and Bankruptcy: Being a Details Devil Pays Dividends
2011
Practising Law Institute
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy: Its Value and How it Benefits Low-Income Debtors
Publications
2017
Contra Costa Lawyer
The Personal Injury Case and the Automatic Stay
2011
Las Vegas Review Journal
Considering bankruptcy? The truth behind some common myths
2011
King's Press - Consulting Editor
Handling & Avoiding Liens in Consumer Bankruptcy
2011
East Bay Express
The New Face of Bankruptcy
Languages
English
Spanish
Portuguese