About Andrew T. Karlin

I grew up in Los Angeles, California. I attended UC Santa Barbara and graduated with high honors in 1984 after earning a BA degree in history and admission into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. 

After finishing my studies at UCSB, I entered UCLA Law School. I received my J.D. degree from from UCLA Law School in 1988.  I worked to pay my law school tuition, but still did well scholastically, winning American Jurisprudence awards for excellence in Civil Procedure, Evidence and Remedies.  

I passed the California Bar exam on my first attempt and received my license to practice law in December 1988.  Upon passing the Bar Exam, I began my legal career at Cox, Castle & Nicholson, a respected Century City law firm. 

I opened The Law Office of Andrew T. Karlin on Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade in 1992. Since then, I have  practiced law as a solo practitioner, representing residential and commercial tenants and landlords, property buyers and sellers, small- and medium-sized businesses, and individuals in real estate matters, commercial disputes, personal injury claims, and fraud and civil rights cases. 

My services include client counseling regarding their legal rights and responsibilities, contract negotiation and drafting, informal dispute resolution, and litigation. 

When I was growing up, my father hired a lawyer to collect a $16,000 debt. The lawyer “won” the case--and presented my father with a $20,000 bill. 

My father didn’t count this result as a win. 

Due to my father’s experience, and mine as a lawyer, I do my best to find practical and efficient solutions to legal problems. I understand that the amount spent on legal fees is as important as the amount recovered, and that, if possible, the amount spent on protecting one's legal rights must be proportional to the monetary value of the rights involved. (Unfortunately, how much it costs to solve a legal problem is a multi-variable equation, and no one lawyer or client can control all of the variables.)

As a result, I strive to give advice that makes financial sense and craft strategies that resolve legal problems efficiently. To that end, I will do my best to analyze your case properly, explain things to you clearly, complete your work on schedule, return your telephone calls and emails promptly (I prefer emails to texts), bill you fairly, and otherwise treat you with respect.