Lawyers map
Is this your profile? Claim it for free in just a few minutes!
Swati Sumit Desai
4887 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim, CA
Practices
4.5
Avvo rating
18 Reviews
Data reflects the status as of the latest update. Updates are typically done monthly.
License
License ID number: -
Licensed in: -
Year admitted: -
Last reviews
See All Reviews
Overall rating
4.5
18 reviews
4.5
Tom
23 Jul, 2020
Swati was the second lawyer I hired after a five year ongoing divorce case. The first firm I hired was terrible and I'll just leave it at that. After an initial bad experience with the family law world, I decided to do my due diligence before hiring another lawyer, plus, I was doing pretty bad financially and couldn't really afford to hire any firm. Luckily, my ex-wife's situation wasn't amazing either and she had to drop her lawyer as well due to financial reasons, which resulted in both of us continuing our case pro-per. This led me to a two and a half year long journey where I had contacted dozens and dozens of family law firms and lawyers, getting as much free advise as I could and occasionally paying for an hour or two of consultation whenever I could afford it. In the process, I become very familiar with different lawyers all the way from the Valley down to Orange County. I talked and met with any type of lawyer you could imagine, from highly experience competent ones, to complete amateurs that were just trying to make a quick buck.
I contacted Swati's firm about a year into my search and received a great consultation from one of her lawyers, but unfortunately didn't have the funds to hire them at the time. Fast forward to a year and a half later, my case was on track to go to trial and my ex-wife got herself a new lawyer and so I found myself borrowing money and saving any penny I had, so I could hire one as well. I contacted Swati's office again and unfortunately, they were not available to take my case. After some convincing and Swati's calendar becoming clearer, she was able to accept my case. Best course of events in my six year case (not a typo). We had a hearing coming up about a week after I had hired her. Swati prepared and showed up to the hearing with as much preparation she could have had in that short amount of time (my case was very complicated with many moving parts) and against my expectations, delivered a flawless representation of my position and showed the other side (that until that day in court wasn't aware that I had hired a lawyer) that they are going to have an extremely difficult time litigating this case.
My case was set for trial, and we ended up settling before then and against all odds (I forgot to mention that my ex-wife received a pro-bono lawyer which meant she had zero overhead going to trial and a law incentive to settle as a result).
Swati and her team were extremely competent, savvy, knowledgeable and most importantly - honest and caring.
I even asked Swati during one of our meetings, a couple of weeks before the commendatory settlement hearing was held, what would her incentive be to settle my case versus going to trial which will result in hundreds of billable hours for her. She explained that what I described isn't rare in the family law industry and that in fact, in some conferences they teach lawyers how to deploy billing strategies like the one I was worried about, but that she is not the person to take advantage of her clients and will always push for the client to spend the lease amount they need on their legal defense. Even after explaining that, I was still skeptical. However, Swati came through with her promise and her and her team pushed to settle my case and got me a great outcome, ended saving me a lot of time and money and made me believe that despite what I largely came across in the field, that even though rare, there are still lawyers that are competent, professional, honest and caring out there. Can't recommend her enough.
Read more
Nathaniel
11 Jun, 2019
Swati... Hard for me to explain my gratitude towards you. I would not know my sons the way I do today if it were not for you. Brings tears to my eyes even writing this... You were so calculated, calm and supportive. My sons and I owe our relationship to you and the work you put in for us. You are a wonderful person. Thank you so much!
Read more
Jason
19 May, 2017
If you do decide to use Desai Family Law as your counsel, do NOT have Malori handle any of your documents or case. She is careless with her work and not detailed oriented. I should have known this in the beginning, when she had emailed me requesting my signed retainer agreement. I notified her that the signed agreement was faxed couple days prior, then receive an email stating she had found my signed retainer agreement. This is not a big issue and a simple mistake that is understandable. However, during the negotiations of my case, I had instructed Malori to change my custody schedule to the Settlement Proposal Letter. I, of course, wanted more time with my child and attached a picture of the changes I was requesting. I even told Malori to see the attached picture. Apparently, Malori did not see the attached picture and emailed me the Proposal several times without the changes I requested. I was also billed for the wasted time and work spent because of Malori's negligence. I eventually had to call Malori and tell her which email to open and what needed to be done.
If you decide to use Desai Family Law Group, I would NOT recommend using Swati Desai. Any parent going through a custody case, goes through a lot of stress and needs an attorney to help them feel confident. I can honestly say, I did not feel confident having Swati represent me as my counsel, and I had to fire her 1 week prior to my court date. Several months prior to my court date during a phone call, Swati was aggressive with me on the phone and telling me my court date is coming up. I had to remind her that my court date was postponed and rescheduled to a later date by the courts. Her reply, "Hold on. Oh yeah, you're right". Also, during this conversation, Swati had given me incorrect legal advise. I questioned Swati's legal advice, so I emailed Malori if what Swati had said was correct. Malori's email contradicted Swati's legal advise; and in fact, Swati's legal advise was incorrect. During another important phone call, Swati proceeded to put me on hold twice. I was billed for the entire length of the phone call and her pricing is not cheap!
One week prior to my court date during a phone call, Swati asked me "wait, when is your court date again"? Also during this phone call, I had asked Swati if she saw my important email from 2 days before. Her response, "What email? Oh yeah, that email. What was that email regarding again"? It was after this phone call, I decided to seek new counsel and fire Swati as my attorney. I understand that most attorneys do not memorize all their clients' court dates, but at least wait until the phone call is over and check your schedule for the court date. Do not ask your client, "wait, when is your court date again". (Take this as constructive criticism). The amount of stress and paranoia I endured having to fire Swati one week prior to my court date, I do not wish upon any parent.
Shortly after replacing Swati, I was emailed a ridiculous bill. I tried to call Swati from my work phone to discuss the charges, only to realize that she had blocked that number. If Swati was familiar with my case/file she would have blocked the only number I had put on my contact information (which was my personal phone number). I called her from my personal number and she refused to discuss the charges.
For the price they charge, I expected a certain level of professionalism and experience, which was not met. I would not recommend this firm and would suggest looking elsewhere.
Read more
Top review highlights
Pros
1
Highly knowledgeable, skilled, and prepared in the courtroom
“She is absolutely brilliant in the courtroom. She overwhelmed the other side with her preparedness and quick thinking.”
2
Compassionate and supportive throughout the legal process
“She was also very supportive, empathetic and kind. She was truthful with me about my options and the likely outcomes, unlike some less scrupulous lawyers.”
3
Achieves successful outcomes for clients
“She is extremely knowledgeable, very calm, responsive, and best of all helped me win.”
4
Dedicated to her clients' best interests
“Swati charged me SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS to read my emails and print/file the attachments even AFTER I FIRED HER. And worse, she never gave any indication that she had absolutely no intention of using the extensive documentation I've accumulated about my ex-wife's undisclosed assets and income.”
5
Highly recommended by clients
“If you want someone that can see you through the end of your divorce and stand by your side and do everything in their power to get the result you want, then I urge you to call her.”
Cons
1
Lacks attention to detail and responsiveness at times
“Malori is careless with her work and not detailed oriented. [...] Malori did not see the attached picture and emailed me the Proposal several times without the changes I requested.”
2
Can be aggressive and unprepared at times
“Swati was aggressive with me on the phone and telling me my court date is coming up. I had to remind her that my court date was postponed and rescheduled to a later date by the courts.”
Best lawyers in Anaheim, CA
07 Jan, 2025 by Faux fancies
Incredible advice; very knowledgeable and helpful! Definitely recommend to homeowners who are being hurt by bad contractors! Thank you, Ashley!
Read more
02 Dec, 2024 by Sayde lytton
Ashley is extremely knowledgable in her profession . She explained everything to me so that I fully understood and was so patient with my questions!
Read more
15 Nov, 2024 by Dale katsuyama
We are currently having an issue with our contractor.
Ashley quickly responded, provided education and guidance. Very much appreciated.
Read more
12 Jan, 2025 by Anonymous
Jordan was communicative and available which is essential for those going through a difficult and unfamiliar process like divorce. He was always professional but also aware of the human elements of the situation. I appreciate his service.
Read more
23 Sep, 2024 by Jennifer
Jordan delivered on my case to say the least. He was always available and responded quickly to my ongoing questions and concerns. He listened and gave great legal advice throughout my lengthy custody battle. I highly recommend him and will be referring him to family and friends.
Read more
11 Jun, 2024 by Maribel
Jordan is very professional and very helpful, I would recommend him to anyone, I hired him for Family Law. He goes above and beyond to make sure you are highly satisfied with his services..from the time I first spoke to him explaining my situation he quickly took action and began to work on my case. My case took about 2yrs and Jordan was always on top of everything from beginning to the end. I couldn’t have asked for anyone better to work with!
Read more
29 Nov, 2013 by Dwight
Stephen represented our business several years ago in a case we brought against a company that had not paid a contracted amount. He truly partnered with us in this case. He is an ass kicker - but in a legal and extremely professional way. Stephen defended us as a friend would. I consider him a friend - not just an attorney I have used. He won every point made in court and the Judge completely sided with us. We won that case 100% due to Steve's ability to present our case. Would highly recommend his services.
Dwight Franke
Read more
Discover the ideal lawyer
You can search a lawyer by practice area, lawyer name, city, state, or ZIP code
FAQs
Questions? We have answers
What Questions Should I Ask Before Hiring a Lawyer?
Hiring the right lawyer is crucial for the success of your case. Here are some important questions to ask during your initial consultation:
-
What experience do you have with cases similar to mine?
Ensure the lawyer has relevant experience in the specific area of law pertaining to your case. -
How do you charge for your services, and what are the estimated costs?
Understand the fee structure, including hourly rates, flat fees, retainer fees, and any additional expenses. -
Who will be handling my case?
Find out if the lawyer will handle your case personally or delegate tasks to other attorneys or paralegals. -
What is your approach to resolving cases like mine?
Learn about their strategy, whether they prefer negotiation, mediation, or litigation. -
What potential outcomes can I expect?
While no lawyer can guarantee results, they can provide an assessment of possible scenarios based on their experience. -
How will you communicate with me throughout the process?
Establish expectations for updates, preferred communication methods, and response times. -
What is the expected timeline for my case?
Get an estimate of how long the process may take from start to finish. -
Do you have references from past clients?
Testimonials or references can provide insight into the lawyer's professionalism and effectiveness. -
What challenges do you foresee in my case?
Understanding potential obstacles helps you prepare and sets realistic expectations. -
Are there alternative ways to resolve my legal issue?
Discuss options like mediation, arbitration, or settlement to resolve the issue efficiently.
Can a Lawyer Represent Me in Courts Outside of Anaheim, California?
Whether a lawyer can represent you in courts outside of your city or state depends on their licensure and the jurisdiction of the court:
-
Within the Same State:
Lawyers licensed in a particular state can typically practice anywhere within that state, including all cities and counties. They can represent you in both state and federal courts located in that state. -
Outside of Their Licensed State:
If your case is in a different state, the lawyer must be licensed in that state to represent you. However, there are exceptions:- Pro Hac Vice Admission: An out-of-state lawyer can request special permission to represent a client in a specific case in another state. This requires filing a motion with the court and often working in conjunction with a local attorney.
- Federal Courts: If your case is in federal court, a lawyer licensed in any state may be able to represent you, provided they are admitted to practice in that particular federal court.
-
International Representation:
For cases outside the United States, different rules apply, and the lawyer may need to comply with the foreign country's legal requirements or collaborate with local counsel.
It's important to discuss your specific situation with the lawyer to determine if they can represent you in the desired jurisdiction and what steps may be necessary to do so.
How to Check the Credibility of a Lawyer
Before hiring a lawyer, it's crucial to verify their credibility and ensure they're qualified to handle your case:
-
Verify Their License:
Check with your state's bar association to confirm the lawyer is licensed and in good standing. Most state bar websites have an online directory for this purpose. -
Experience and Specialization:
Ensure the lawyer specializes in the area of law relevant to your case. Review their website, professional profiles, and case history. -
Disciplinary Record:
Look up any history of disciplinary actions or complaints through the state bar association's records. -
Client Reviews and Testimonials:
Read reviews on legal directories like Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, Google, or Yelp to gauge client satisfaction and experiences. -
Professional Memberships:
Membership in professional organizations or specialty bar associations can indicate a commitment to their field and adherence to high ethical standards. -
Awards and Recognitions:
Honors from reputable organizations reflect expertise and a positive reputation in the legal community. -
Consultation Assessment:
Use the initial consultation to evaluate their communication skills, responsiveness, and willingness to address your concerns. -
Ask for References:
A credible lawyer should be willing to provide references from past clients who can speak to their abilities and professionalism.
What Should I Prepare for My First Consultation?
To make the most of your initial meeting with a lawyer, come prepared with:
-
Relevant Documents:
Bring all documents related to your case, such as:- Contracts or agreements
- Correspondence (emails, letters, texts)
- Legal notices or court papers
- Financial records (if applicable)
- Evidence (photos, videos, receipts)
-
Written Summary:
Prepare a concise written summary of your situation, including key dates, events, and parties involved. This helps the lawyer quickly understand the context. -
List of Questions:
Write down any questions you have about your case, the legal process, fees, or the lawyer's experience. -
Financial Information:
If your case involves financial matters, bring relevant documents like pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements, or invoices. -
Contact Information:
Provide details of any witnesses or other parties relevant to your case, including their names and contact information. -
Personal Identification:
Bring a valid photo ID for verification purposes. -
Pen and Notebook:
Take notes during the consultation to remember important points discussed. -
Budget Constraints:
Be ready to discuss your budget and any financial limitations so the lawyer can provide appropriate guidance on fees and payment options. -
Openness and Honesty:
Be prepared to discuss your case candidly. Full disclosure allows the lawyer to give accurate advice and anticipate potential challenges.
