Attorney Evan E. Zelig Brings Prosecutorial and Defense Experience to Santa Rosa

When criminal charges threaten a person’s freedom, reputation, or future, having an attorney who understands the criminal justice system from multiple perspectives can be important. In Santa Rosa and throughout Sonoma County, Attorney Evan E. Zelig focuses his practice on criminal defense and DUI matters, representing clients facing a wide range of criminal allegations.

The Founding Attorney Evan E. Zelig brings experience from several positions throughout the legal field. After working as a prosecutor and later defending clients at a national criminal defense firm and a private criminal defense practice, he returned to Northern California to establish the Law Offices of Evan E. Zelig. Located in the heart of Sonoma County near the Hall of Justice Courthouse and jail detention facilities, the firm accepts criminal cases from throughout California.

A Legal Career Focused on Criminal Law

Attorney Zelig has focused on criminal law since the beginning of his legal career. While attending McGeorge School of Law at the University of the Pacific, he worked as an intern at the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office. This position gave him early exposure to criminal litigation, courtroom procedures and the process prosecutors use when preparing and presenting cases.

After earning his law degree, Mr. Zelig became a Deputy District Attorney in Sacramento. He represented California residents through different stages of criminal prosecution and developed experience preparing cases, presenting arguments and working in a courtroom setting. His time with the District Attorney’s Office also gave him firsthand knowledge of how prosecutors evaluate evidence and approach criminal cases.

Defending Clients Facing Serious Felony Charges

After leaving the Sacramento District Attorney’s Office, Mr. Zelig moved into criminal defense work with a national criminal defense law firm in Los Angeles. During this period, he represented clients accused of serious felony offenses, including murder, rape, kidnapping, robbery and assault. Handling these cases gave him experience with criminal matters involving significant potential consequences.

Mr. Zelig has also handled cases in state and federal courts across the country. His experience includes matters in California, Arizona, Washington, New York, Florida and Oklahoma, among other jurisdictions. Working across different courts has exposed him to a variety of criminal proceedings and legal issues while building on the courtroom experience he gained earlier in his career.

Experience From DUI Cases to Major Felonies

Mr. Zelig later accepted a position as an associate attorney for a sole practitioner in Encino, California. At the busy criminal defense practice, he handled cases covering a wide range of charges, from DUI and petty theft to serious felony allegations. The position allowed him to work on cases with different levels of complexity and potential consequences.

His experience included Three Strikes cases, gang allegations, weapons allegations, murder and kidnapping. This broad background allows him to approach criminal cases based on the particular facts involved rather than treating every charge the same. DUI cases, theft allegations and serious felony prosecutions can raise very different legal questions and require different approaches.

Building a Criminal Defense Practice in Santa Rosa

After gaining experience as both a prosecutor and defense attorney, Attorney Zelig returned to Northern California and opened the Law Offices of Evan E. Zelig in Santa Rosa. The firm is located in Sonoma County near the Hall of Justice Courthouse and jail detention facilities, placing the practice close to important parts of the local criminal justice system.

Although the practice is based in Santa Rosa, Mr. Zelig accepts criminal cases from throughout California. His background includes work in state and federal courts, as well as experience handling cases in multiple jurisdictions across the country. That experience provides a foundation for representing clients dealing with a variety of criminal charges.

Education, Court Admissions and Professional Organizations

Attorney Zelig earned his J.D. from McGeorge School of Law at the University of the Pacific. He received his B.A. from the University of California, Irvine. His legal education provided the foundation for a career that has remained focused on criminal law and courtroom practice.

Mr. Zelig is admitted to practice in all California state courts and in the United States District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, Central and Southern Districts of California. He is also a member of the California Public Defender Association, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, Sonoma County Bar Association, Napa County Bar Association and American Bar Association, along with the NORML Legal Committee and California NORML Legal Committee.

Speaking With a Criminal Defense Attorney

A criminal charge can create immediate questions about court dates, evidence, potential penalties and what steps should be taken next. The legal process can also vary depending on the type of charge and the circumstances surrounding the allegations. Speaking with a criminal defense attorney can help a person better understand the process and the issues involved in the case.

Attorney Evan E. Zelig’s background includes experience on both sides of the criminal justice system. From his early work with the Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office to defending clients charged with serious felonies and handling DUI matters, his career has remained focused on criminal law. People facing criminal charges can learn more about his background, legal experience and criminal defense practice through the Law Offices of Evan E. Zelig.