H.A. Sala

H.A. Sala is a California criminal defense lawyer at H.A. Sala, A Professional Law Corporation, who represents clients charged with misdemeanors and serious felonies in Bakersfield. He has been admitted in California since 1982. He is a Certified Specialist in Criminal Law through the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. His practice covers major narcotics trafficking, homicide, vehicular manslaughter, DUI, white collar fraud, embezzlement, mortgage fraud, theft, and domestic violence. He handles assault, battery, conspiracy, Three Strikes, and gang cases as well.

Mr. Sala earned a J.D. from the University of California Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law. He previously earned a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California Davis. His undergraduate and legal studies provided the academic foundation for his professional career.

Mr. Sala began his professional career as Deputy General Counsel with the Agricultural Labor Relations Board. He later worked as a housing rights attorney with Northern California Legal Services. From 1983 to 1986, he served as a Deputy Public Defender in Kern County. His criminal defense work includes pretrial issues involving bail, Miranda violations, illegal searches and seizures, government misconduct, defective search warrants, and insufficient evidence.

H.A. Sala has worked as a criminal defense attorney through his professional law corporation since 1986. He is admitted to the US District Court for the Eastern District of California. His background combines public defense, government service, housing rights work, and decades of criminal litigation. He continues to defend clients in Bakersfield against misdemeanor and felony charges, focusing on preparation, pretrial strategy, and courtroom advocacy.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, H.A. Sala. Attorney At Law
• Member, The State Bar of California
• Co-Founder, Kern County Unity Bar
• Member, Kern County Bar Association
• Co-Founder, Immigration Justice Collaborative
• Member, Kern County Court Liaison Committee
• President, Kern County Bar Association (2010 – 2011)
• Life Member, California Attorneys for Criminal Justice
• Life Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Chair, Judicial Appointments Evaluation Committee, Kern County Bar Association
• Director, California State University Bakersfield Foundation Board (2019-2021)
• Member, Bakersfield College Pre-Law Advisory Council (2014 – 2018)
• President, Kern County Bar Association Criminal Defense Section (2004)
• Director, Kern County Bar Association Board of Directors (2008 – 2010)
• Director, Kern County Bar Association Charitable Foundation (2011 – 2016)
• Chair, Racial Equity and Law Committee, African-American Network of Kern County
• Chair, Oversight Committee, Kern County Bar Association Indigent Defense Program (2011 – 2018)

Licensed State

• California

Education

• University of California Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• University of California Davis
  B.A. in Political Science

Awards & Badges