One of the most principled, innovative and effective attorneys I have ever worked with. The real deal. Ed Spatola,New Found Life Jeffrey Merrick is one of the rare attorneys who is not only professionally invested in his clients' cases, but also emotionally invested in his clients' lives. Nafisé Nina Hodjat, Esq., DUI Partners I was a convicted felon with several open cases in multiple counties but Jeff was able to work out a deal where all of my cases were closed and past felonies expunged... Today I am almost five years sober and I have no criminal record whatsoever. I got a second chance at life. Laurel H., Thousand Oaks, California Jeff brings years of experience and expertise to the table, and is also a genuinely concerned, caring individual who miraculously always seems to be able to be there when needed. Edward C. Stark, Esq. Cron, Israels & Stark If you need an attorney with the courts for alternative sentences, an interventionist for the family and a friend in your darkest hours, be it for yourself or a loved one,Jeff Merrick is your person. Randy H., Altadena, California Jeffrey is a compassionate, skilled attorney and interventionist who combines great training with an uncanny ability to motivate complex cases towards change. John Morris Reach Aftercare The ease in collaborating with Jeff is one reason we frequently call on him. His combination of legal skill and compassionate interventions can be difficult to find in one person. Carson Winn, LCSW Alo Recovery Centers Jeffrey Merrick made an enormous difference in our lives. He is in recovery himself, so he really understands the disease of addiction ... What a gift it has been to work with him, and to see our beautiful son get sober.  Kay D., Colorado Springs, Colorado SlideSlideSlideSlideSlideSlideSlideSlideSlide
Welcome

Jeffrey J. Merrick, Esq. is a veteran criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles specializing in drug, alcohol and mental health cases. Known for his expertise in alternative sentencing and care advocacy, he is also a respected member of the national treatment and recovery communities. With over twenty-five years in practice, Jeffrey’s clients always get the best legal defense and case resolution. He is known for winning defense strategies and for creating alternatives to criminal punishment.

Jeffrey is also a professional interventionist with over fifteen years of experience facilitating behavioral and mental health interventions. Solid training, experience, treatment planning and recovery knowledge all come into play in a time-honored process of intervention. Jeffrey helps employers, colleagues, families and friends engage their loved one in a new way, transforming crisis into lasting recovery. Intervention is breakthrough work, a process with many moving parts. Intervention is also a process over time, requiring strategic partnership, teamwork, thorough preparation and a solid plan of action.

Acceptance and entry to the highest quality treatment is the main objective of intervention, but also just the beginning of the process. Jeffrey guides a wide range of clients and their loved ones from standstill to solution. His intervention style is highly structured, drawing heavily on his personal longterm recovery and experience in the field. It is a style that is heart-centered and far more invitational than confrontational.

Jeffrey is a strong voice for wellness in and outside the courtroom. He excels at building the strategic partnerships and creative alliances required to win cases, inspire real change and promote client and family healing. He routinely collaborates with some of the best programs, experts and practitioners in the country. Jeffrey works well with all ages and a variety of complex client and family needs. He provides recovery solutions and support through each phase of the legal, intervention, treatment and recovery process.

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Attorney

Jeffrey J. Merrick, Esq. has been practicing law in California for over twenty-five years, with national law firm litigation experience leading to several years of criminal defense practice. He specializes in alternative sentencing through the courts. He has worked in addiction and mental health treatment, which often comes into play in advocating for client recovery and other alternatives to criminal punishment. The usual form of punishment for criminal defendants, and especially those with alcohol and drug-related charges, is jail and even prison sentences.

Jeffrey works quickly with a client facing a criminal case, analyzing all potential charges and preparing the best possible defense. He knows that these charges often can throw a client and family into fear and crisis, threatening the client’s rights, freedom, reputation, record, the ability to move forward in an academic or professional career. This is why every client’s unique goals and needs are discussed upfront, alongside the legal issues presented. Read more…

I have been a colleague with Jeffrey Merrick in the field of Addiction Recovery for many years. We have had close communication in assisting many members of the community through his Professional Intervention services to get help and stay the course through treatment. I have had on many occasions some clients needing legal assistance which he has guided them through with care and precision. I would highly recommend the services of both intervention and legal assistance from Jeffrey. He is a devoted professional in our field.

Samantha Stone
Cornerstone of Southern California
Intervention

An intervention is a serious, well-planned conversation with a loved one expressing concern over his or her mental health problems and/or abuse of drugs or alcohol. The process needs to be supportive and heart-centered, free of anger, judgment or blame.

Interventions can be a one-on-one conversation, but are much more successful if several people are involved. After thorough preparation and action planning, a group of people that the individual loves and respects comes together to present a pre-planned conversation about the addiction and/or mental health problems that need to be addressed. Everyone joining the conversation is there to offer love, encouragement and hope with the unified objective of helping the loved one accept the treatment he or she needs.

It is a widespread misconception that you have to wait for your loved one to reach “bottom” before moving forward with an intervention. The truth is that most individuals in a worsening cycle of addiction and other untreated mental health disorders are at a point where they cannot see their problem clearly let alone create a treatment solution. It is also true that it becomes harder to reach a loved one the longer they remain in untreated and worsening chemical dependency and/or mental illness.

Experience has shown that it is a much better strategy for concerned family and friends to focus more on whether they have had enough of seeing the person they love continue to put themselves and others at risk, hurt themselves and keep self-destructing. Most intervention teams come together and take action when they can accept that they are at a “bottom” all their own — the point where they decide that they cannot and will not continue to see the person they love slip away in worsening health and at risk for bad outcomes.

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Jeffrey did a very good job assisting my family in finding placements (rehabs) for a member of my family who desperately needed help. Jeffrey was always available to provide his support, knowledge and research into our best options. He put in extra time helping us especially during stressful times.

Jeffrey was compassionate as he listened to our families needs. Through his resourcefulness he was able to find the best placements and care for our family member who needed help.He still continues his support for my family whenever we need it.

We highly recommend Jeffrey as an interventionist and sober support person.

Shelly R.
Marina Del Rey, California