I can tell you only from my personal experience with dealing with LA Criminal Defense attorneys that they truly are people that care about what they do. A good friend of mine was charged with felony drug possession and also felony maintaining a common nuisance a couple years ago and his public defender tried to get him to plead guilty to a sentence of 12 years. After contacting a criminal defense attorney we found that not only was he NOT going to spend 12 years in prison, but rather he went home the day of his trial. So in reference I can honestly say that YES they really do care.