Pavel Sterin

Humble Beginnings & Legal Inspiration

I immigrated from the former Soviet Union at age 4 with my family, all of us filled with ambition and the hope of achieving the American Dream. Sunny days and warmer temperatures were just an added bonus. Shortly after arriving in the U.S., our newfound excitement was overshadowed by an automobile accident, bringing fear and stress into our lives.

My parents retained an attorney, but they were left in the dark
Calls went unanswered, updates were nonexistent, and the legal process remained a mystery
The other party’s insurance company and attorney sent threatening letters

Even at a young age, I saw how overwhelming this was for my parents. This experience left a lasting impression on me. I vowed to help people understand the law, protect their rights, and ensure they receive necessary medical services for recovery. My goal became clear: to help real people with real problems.

Overcoming Legal Injustice

My family’s legal struggles did not end there. My father was wrongfully convicted of a misdemeanor due to his employer’s illicit activities. With limited English and financial constraints, he was unable to afford or properly communicate with legal counsel.

Poor representation led to devastating results, further fueling my passion to stand up for those who are wronged by the system.

This hardship strengthened my calling to protect people from being bullied after accidents, negligence, or wrongful accusations.

Entrepreneurial Journey & Work Ethic

From an early age, I embraced entrepreneurship:

Saved my lunch money to buy and resell items in school
Expanded into selling concert and sporting event tickets
Launched an eBay store in high school to save for law school
Wrote business essays for students in college

My strong work ethic remained at the core of everything I did. No matter the venture, I was always focused on my long-term goal of becoming an attorney.

Academic & Legal Career

I completed my undergraduate studies at UC San Diego, majoring in English and Political Science. I then enrolled in the University of West Los Angeles, School of Law, where I earned three Witkin’s Awards for achieving the highest grade in:

Evidence
Trial Advocacy
Legal Writing

I gained valuable experience working with attorneys in civil litigation, personal injury, elder abuse, and criminal law. In December 2017, I was admitted to:

State Bar of California
U.S. District Court in the Central District of California
Ninth Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals

Building a Law Practice & Client Commitment

In my first year of solo practice:

Recovered over $1 million for my clients
Reduced attorney fees to provide more affordable representation
Introduced a “no pay unless you win” guarantee

It was a risk, but one I was willing to take to ensure that my clients had access to proper representation—the very thing my father was denied. The most important part of being an attorney is communication and transparency:

Some clients prefer to be involved in every stage, while others want everything handled for them
I keep all clients informed of processes and timeframes
I provide honest updates, whether it’s good news or bad
My clients always have my personal cell number

I have heard too many client-attorney nightmare stories that could have been prevented with open communication.

Outside of my faith and family, I am at my clients’ service.