My Expertise

When it comes to legal services, can you afford to make a wrong decision? Fixing problems later almost always costs more than avoiding them in the first place. Ensure that you get both solid legal and business advice in all types of matters.

Though not required, most potential clients choose to conduct business through the more time-efficient methods of chat and email because it helps keep costs down for everyone. Please click the See all profiles link, above, and review all the Legal Services offered by me on this Web site for more information. If the legal services you require aren't listed there or within the pages for any of those services, or you aren't sure if I'm a good fit for what you think you need, please contact me anyway.

Let my experience put you in control of your legal challenges so you can concentrate on other aspects of your life. If I can’t handle your legal problem, I will help you find someone who can.



Law and justice are not always the same!


Running my own consulting company provided me with valuable experience negotiating, problem solving and working through confrontational issues. My accomplishments, business experiences, education and interests are my means to providing you the services you seek. Let me put my tenacious attitude and strategic mindset to work for you!

Whether you are unsure if you need a lawyer, face your first legal situation, need help to handle existing problems, or want a second opinion, please contact me.

If you need help in any of the following areas, I can assist you.

Partial List of Limited Scope Legal Services Offered:

• Legal Services:

     • General Legal Services

     • Accidents & Injury

       • Products Liability

       • Manufacturing Defects

       • Design Defects

       • Marketing Defects

       • Homeowners Insurance Claims

       • Catastrophic Injuries

       • Wrongful Death

       • Invasion of Privacy or Negligence

       • Defamation: Slander & Libel

     • Consumer Protection, Consumer Advocacy

       • Debtor-Creditor

       • Housing Problems

       • Homeowner Association Disputes

       • Consumer Cases

       • Fair Credit Reporting Act

       • Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

       • Rosenthal Act

       • Credit Repair Organizations Act

       • Electronic Funds Transfer Act

       • Truth-in-Lending Act

       • Credit Card Act

       • NSF, Debt Collection

       • Judgment, Liens, Garnishment

     • Corporate Law

       • Formation

         • Entity Choice & Structure

         • Non-Profit Organizations

           • Assistance Preparing a 501(c)(3) Application

         • Preliminary Name Search

         • Articles of Incorporation & Bylaws

         • Organizational Meeting Requirements

         • Organizing Corporate Records

         • Ownership Issues

         • Shareholder Control Agreements

         • Voting Agreements

       • Contracts

       • Small Business

       • Purchase or Sale of Business

       • Succession Planning

       • Asset Protection

       • Employee Handbooks

       • Independent Contractor Agreements

       • Policies

           • Human Resource Policy

           • Ethics Policy

       • HIPAA; Sarbanes-Oxley; Other Legal Compliance considerations

     • Criminal Law

       • Criminal Procedure

       • Drugs & Alcohol

       • Police Practices

       • Rights of Suspects

       • Traffic & Motor Vehicle

       • Evidence

       • Lab Analysis, Procedure

       • Victim Restitution, Enforcement, Collection

     • Family Law

       • Pre- & Post-nuptial Agreements

       • Domestic Partnership, Civil Union

       • Divorce Law

         • Divorce & Separation Law

         • Annulment

         • Separation, Property Settlement Agreements

         • Spousal Support

         • Property Division

         • Debt Responsibility

       • Child Custody, Visitation & Support

         • Father's Rights

         • Custody & Visitation

         • Issues re: Relocation Child Custody

         • Interstate Child Support

         • Parenting Time &/or Plan

         • Dealing with CSE, Other Gov't Enforcement

       • Elder Care or Abuse

     • Intellectual Property Law

       • Copyrights

       • Trademarks

       • Policies:

         • Copyright & Intellectual Property Policy

         • Website Privacy Policy

         • Warranty or Other Legal Policies

     • Small Claims

       • Representing Yourself

       • Prepare for Hearing, Trial

       • Subpoena Documents or Witnesses

       • Consumer Protection

       • Collect for Violations of:

         • Fair Credit Reporting Act

         • Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

       • Landlord-Tenant: Residential or Commercial

       • NSF, Debt Collection

       • Negotiation Support

       • Other Matters

     • Legal Research

       • Independent research, analysis & evaluation

       • Document Review

       • Litigation Support

       • Due Diligence

       • Lawsuit Issues, Motion Deadlines

       • Civil Rights

       • Legal Research Tools

       • Court Opinions, Rules

       • On-Line & Self-Help Resources

     • Paralegal Services

       • Custom Contracts & Reusable Templates

       • Small Business Assistance

       • Contract Analysis & Drafting

       • Trademark or Copyright Registration

       • Document Creation & Sharing

       • Technology Agreement Drafting

       • e-Discovery & Discovery Management

       • Pre-Litigation Support

       • Prepare Memorandums & Correspondence

       • Trial Notebooks or Visual Presentations

     • Wills, Trusts, & Estates

       • Analyze Your Situation

       • Estate Planning & Preparation

       • Prepare Will & Other Documents

       • Revocable & Irrevocable Trusts

       • Life Insurance Trusts

       • Living Wills

       • Health Care Directives

       • Powers of Attorney

       • Special Needs or Pet Trusts

• Business & Finance:

     • Business Planning

       • Business Plans

       • e-Business Policies

       • Legal Compliance Audits

     • Employment Issues

       • Employment, Other Policy Manuals

       • Discrimination: Race, Religion, Age, Disability

       • Sexual Harassment

       • Wrongful Termination

       • Breach of Employment Contract

       • Other Employment Claims

       • Employee Handbooks

       • Independent Contractor Agreements

       • Human Resource Policy

     • eCommerce

       • Terms & Conditions Policy

       • Terms of Use Policy

       • Copyright & Intellectual Property Policy

       • Warranty or Other Legal Policies

       • Website Privacy Policy

       • Effective Online Disclosure

       • Internet Website Agreements

       • Consumer Privacy

       • Internet Marketing Issues

     • Credit & Debt

     • Small Business Issues

       • Appropriate Form

       • Corp, Partnership, LLC, LLP

       • Non-Profit - 501(c)(3)

       • Director, Officer Indemnification

       • Shareholder Agreements

       • Corporation, LLC Governing Documents

       • ADA, HIPAA & Federal Law Compliance

     • Entrepreneurs

       • Strategic Consulting

• Consulting:

     • Management Consulting

       • Productivity Improvement

       • Optimization of Resources

       • Effective Outsourcing

       • Employee Attrition Issues

       • Cost Reduction

       • Managerial tasks, including project management

       • Legal Compliance Audits

     • Information Systems Consulting

       • Implementation of New Technology

       • Change Management

       • Strategic Planning

       • Improve Delivery of Services

       • Increase Efficacy & Cost Effectiveness

       • Data Protection

       • Supplement Company Resources

       • Enhance Employee Performance

       • Evaluate program efficiency & effectiveness

       • Re engineer Operations

       • Optimize staffing levels & usage

       • Information integrity & security counseling

       • Change management counseling

Experience & Qualifications

Bachelor of Science - Major: Forensic Science (yes, like on "CSI")

Juris Doctor - less commonly known as Doctorate of Jurisprudence

Admitted - State Bar of California

Admitted - U.S. District Court, California


DISCLOSURE: The CA State Bar does not certify any lawyer as an expert, and only holders of a current certificate as a specialist issued by the Board of Legal Specialization can refer to themselves as "certified specialist." Therefore, I cannot, nor do I, claim to be an "expert." The information in or provided through this website is for general information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Each legal issue is different and the information contained on this website may not apply to your case. You should be aware that the Statute of Limitations (the deadline imposed by law within which you may bring a lawsuit) may severely limit the time remaining for you to file any potential claims you may have. Legal information is not legal advice. Therefore, no person should act or rely on any information in this site without seeking the advice of an attorney. This Web site may be considered advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. The hiring of an attorney is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Because I am an attorney licensed in California and admitted to practice before the federal courts, you will only receive legal advice applicable to California and/or federal law. You should not consider anything contained on this website to be a guarantee or prediction of result. Prior results are provided for general information purposes only and do not guaranty, warranty or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. This Web site is not intended to be advertising and the Law Offices of David C. Johnston does not wish to represent anyone desiring representation based upon viewing this Web site in a state where this Web site fails to comply with all laws and ethical rules of that state. In the event that any information on this website does not fully conform with regulations in any jurisdiction, this law firm will not accept representation based on that information. I do not collect any information about you other than what you provide to me through chat, by email, or over the phone. To demonstrate my commitment to informed disclosure and to accurately communicate any use of your personally identifiable information, you are directed to read all ExpertBooth policies, to include at minimum the Terms and Conditions of Use and the Privacy Policy. All potential clients are urged to make their own independent investigation and evaluation of any lawyer being considered. To the extent the State Bar rules require me to designate a principal office and/or single attorney responsible for this site, CA Lawyer Online designates David C. Johnston, with offices and contact information as currently listed with the State Bar of California, as the attorney responsible for this CA LAWYER ONLINE ExpertBooth listing. Before you become my client, or I become your attorney, several procedures, including checks for conflicts of interest, must be performed. No attorney-client relationship is formed by reading this website or by merely chatting with or by sending email to CA LAWYER ONLINE. By clicking chat, hire or by sending an email, you acknowledge that you have read, comprehend and agree with this Disclosure.


All information © 2012 CA Lawyer Online

Areas Of Specialty

My goal is to assist people who cannot afford traditional legal services.