Russian-Speaking Lawyer in California

Looking for a lawyer who speaks Russian? Smith Trial Group represents Russian-speaking clients throughout Southern California in personal injury and employment cases, and you can talk with your attorney directly in Russian.

On this page: Why it matters · Cases · Communities · Accent discrimination · About Cardon · Fees · FAQ

Attorney Cardon Smith, founder of Smith Trial Group, speaks fluent Russian. He lived in Russia for two years, where he learned the language and taught free English lessons to children. Russian-speaking clients can discuss their case directly with their lawyer, in Russian, without relying on an interpreter or a family member to translate.

Why It Matters to Talk to Your Lawyer in Your Own Language

• Nothing gets lost. Legal and medical details matter. Explaining what happened in your first language helps your lawyer understand the full story.
• You understand every document. Settlement offers, releases, severance agreements and insurance letters can be explained to you in Russian before you sign anything.
• Better preparation. Court proceedings and depositions use certified interpreters, but your lawyer can prepare you in Russian so you know what to expect.
• Family members can participate. Relatives who are more comfortable in Russian can join the conversation.

Cases We Handle

Personal injury

Car and truck accidents, rideshare crashes, pedestrian and motorcycle accidents, catastrophic injuries, construction accidents caused by third parties, and wrongful death. Russian-language page: Русскоязычный адвокат по травмам. English: personal injury.

Employment law

Wrongful termination, discrimination (including national origin and accent discrimination), retaliation, whistleblower claims, harassment, unpaid wages and overtime, and executive severance negotiations. Russian-language page: Русскоязычный адвокат по трудовому праву. English: employment law.

Serving Russian-Speaking Communities in Southern California

We represent Russian speakers from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, the Baltic states and elsewhere, including clients in West Hollywood, Hollywood, Glendale, the San Fernando Valley, Orange County, the Inland Empire and San Diego. Consultations are by phone, by video, or at our Newport Beach office.

National Origin and Accent Discrimination

California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act prohibits discrimination based on national origin, which can include treating employees worse because of their accent, their country of origin, or the language they speak. California law also restricts “English-only” workplace rules to narrow situations where they are justified by business necessity. See national origin discrimination.

About Cardon Smith

Cardon Smith is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center, served as a law clerk to a federal judge, and spent years litigating complex cases for Fortune 500 companies before founding Smith Trial Group in 2015. He now represents injured people and employees across Southern California. See Cardon Smith’s bio.

Fees

Consultations are free and confidential. Personal injury cases, and most discrimination, retaliation and wrongful termination cases, are handled on a contingency fee basis, so you pay no attorney’s fees unless we recover compensation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have a lawyer who speaks Russian?

Yes. Attorney Cardon Smith speaks fluent Russian. He lived in Russia for two years, and clients can discuss their case with him directly in Russian.

What kinds of cases do you handle for Russian-speaking clients?

Personal injury cases such as car and truck accidents and wrongful death, and employment cases such as wrongful termination, discrimination, retaliation, unpaid wages and severance negotiations.

Is it illegal to discriminate against me because of my accent?

Treating an employee worse because of their accent or national origin can be illegal national origin discrimination under California law, depending on the facts.

Where are you located?

Our office is in Newport Beach. We represent clients throughout Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties, with consultations by phone, by video or at our office.

How much does a consultation cost?

The consultation is free and confidential.

Will my case be handled in Russian?

You can communicate with your lawyer in Russian. Court filings and proceedings are in English, and certified interpreters are used for depositions and court hearings.