Long Beach criminal defense attorney and former LAPD officer
Facing a felony or another serious charge? Find out where your case stands on a free case review with Zack McCready, a certified criminal law specialist who spent 8 years making arrests for the LAPD.
The office is closed right now. Request a call back and the firm will call you when it reopens.
Free. No obligation. Calling for a family member is fine.
Contacted by a detective?
Speak with an attorney before you answer questions or agree to come in.
Your first court date is already set. Speak with an attorney before it arrives.
A message from Zack McCready
What is at stake
A serious charge reaches further than the courtroom.
- Your freedom.
A felony conviction can carry time in county jail or state prison.
- Your record.
A felony conviction can appear on background checks for jobs and housing.
- Your rights.
In California a felony conviction means losing the right to own or possess a firearm.
- Your work.
Employers and professional licensing boards review criminal convictions.
- Your status.
For people who are not U.S. citizens, a conviction can affect immigration status.
The goal of a defense is to protect as much of this as the facts allow.
Free case review. No obligation.
What you get on your free case review
A read on your charge.
What you are charged with, in plain terms, and what it can carry.
Your deadlines, mapped out.
Your court date, and any DMV deadline that applies to you.
A look at your paperwork.
Your citation, bail papers and anything else you were handed.
Your options.
What can happen next, and what the firm would do first.
A straight answer on cost.
You hear the fee before you decide anything.
What the first call costs you: nothing
- No cost for the case review.
- No obligation to hire the firm.
- No pressure on the call.
No attorney can promise a result. What the firm can promise is a straight assessment of where you stand.
Free case review. No obligation.
What former clients say
“I would highly recommend Zack. He kept me out of jail and informed on the legal process regarding my case. Very understanding and intelligent.”
“I am thrilled both cases have been dismissed! Thanks again to you for a job well done and outstanding professionalism! Words cannot express how grateful I am!”
“I would recommend Zachary J McCready to anyone; excellence is his motto.”
“Zack is an exceptional lawyer that acts with professionalism while being very personable.”
“He's absolutely everything you want in a lawyer.”
Memberships and certification
These testimonials do not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter.
He knows how the case against you was built
Before he was a defense attorney, Zack McCready was a Los Angeles police officer for eight years. He made arrests and testified in court. He uses that experience to examine how the case against you was put together.
Certified specialist. Certified as a specialist in criminal law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.
Your case stays with him. Zack personally manages every case he takes on, from the first call through every court hearing.
Eight years on the other side. He made arrests and testified in court as an LAPD officer before he became a defense attorney.
After leaving the LAPD he spent a year in Iraq as a government contractor, training Iraqi police chiefs. He has practiced law in California since 2007 and has been a certified criminal law specialist since 2018.
Credentials
- Certification
- Criminal Law Specialist, State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization (2018)
- Admitted to practice
- State Bar of California (2007), U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, U.S. Tax Court
- Education
- J.D., Whittier Law School (2005). B.S. in Criminal Justice, Thomas Edison State College (2001)
- Memberships
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, California DUI Lawyers Association, California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, Orange County Bar Association
Free case review. No obligation.
What to know about your charge
- A felony is a charge that can carry more than a year in custody. Some charges, called wobblers, can be filed as either a felony or a misdemeanor.
- Felony cases include a preliminary hearing, where a judge decides whether there is enough evidence for the case to go forward.
- Bail or release conditions are addressed at your first court appearance. Bring any bail paperwork to your case review.
Free case review. No obligation.
General information, not legal advice. Every case is different.
After an arrest, do these three things
Stay calm and do not resist.
Resisting can add to the problems you face later.
Do not answer questions without an attorney.
You have the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney. Use both.
Call a defense attorney as soon as you can.
The earlier an attorney is involved, the more of the process they can be part of.
Free case review. No obligation.
The court process, in plain terms
Arrest or citation
You are booked or given a notice to appear with a court date.
Arraignment
Your first court date. The charges are read, a plea is entered and bail or release conditions are set.
Pretrial
Your attorney reviews the evidence, files motions and negotiates with the prosecutor. Many cases are resolved here.
Trial or resolution
If the case is not resolved, it goes to trial before a judge or jury.
Free case review. No obligation.
What to have ready when you call
- Your citation, booking or release paperwork
- Your next court date and which courthouse
- Any bail or bond paperwork
- The name of the police agency that made the arrest
Calling for a family member or friend? That is fine. Have their full name and booking number if you know it.
Do not have any of this yet? Call anyway.
Free case review. No obligation.
If you are thinking one of these
“The detective just wants my side of the story.”
What you say can be used in the case. Speak with an attorney before you answer questions.
“I can't afford a lawyer for something this serious.”
The case review is free, and you hear the fee on that call, before you decide anything.
“I already have a public defender.”
You can still talk with a private attorney at no cost before you decide who represents you.
“I'll wait and see what happens in court.”
Your first court date is where a plea is entered and release conditions are set. Speak with an attorney before then.
Free case review. No obligation.
Charges the firm defends
- Felony charges
- Fraud and white collar crimes
- Embezzlement
- Assault and battery
- Robbery
- Weapons charges
- Sex crimes
- Drug sales and trafficking
- Domestic violence
- DUI
- Probation violations
Common questions
Nothing. The case review is free, and there is no obligation to hire the firm.
It depends on the charge and how far the case goes. You hear the fee on your free case review, before you decide anything.
As early as you can, ideally before you speak with police or attend your first court date.
You are under no obligation to answer questions without an attorney present. Speak with an attorney first.
Zack McCready personally manages every case he takes on.
Long Beach and courts across Los Angeles County and Orange County, including Torrance, Carson, Lakewood, Downey, Norwalk, Huntington Beach, Westminster, Garden Grove, Anaheim, Santa Ana and Irvine.
Yes. Family members and friends often make the first call. Have the person's full name and booking number if you know it.
Call now and say when it is. The date is the first thing the firm needs to know.
Speak with an attorney before you speak with police. Do not post about your case online.
The main office is at 3701 Long Beach Blvd, Suite 324, Long Beach. The firm also lists offices in Santa Ana, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Garden Grove, Riverside and Pasadena.
Get your free case review
Free. No obligation. Calling for a family member is fine.