Fay Arfa practices criminal law exclusively. She has successfully handled hundreds of criminal cases, tried more than 100 jury trials, and handled more than 500 criminal appeals. Fay Arfa has the distinction of being Certified as a Specialist in two separate areas of law – Criminal Law as well as Appellate Law – by the California State Bar, Board of Specialization. The National Board of Trial Advocacy has also awarded her a board Certification in Criminal Trial Advocacy.

With decades of experience, Attorney Arfa tenaciously represents defendants in criminal trials, appeals, and post-conviction matters such as Motions for New Trial, habeas corpus petitions, and resentencing petitions. The Attorney Arfa has exceptional expertise in cases involving sex crimes and serious felonies including murders. For many years, Fay Arfa has been selected as a California Super Lawyer. Attorney Arfa testifies as an expert
witness in cases raising ineffective assistance of counsel issues. 

The National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) has selected Attorney Arfa, to receive the 2025 NBTA 's President's Award. The NBTA member colleagues and staff from across the country have chosen her as one of the "best of the best." The National Child Abuse Defense & Resource Center (NCADRC) has deemed her one of the most successful lawyers nationwide.

A CA state bar certified criminal law specialist and National Board Criminal Trial Advodate (NBTA) Attorney Arfa, leverages top-tier technology and investigative methods to craft comprehensive defenses, to make sure every client gets dedicated support. Attorney Arfa offers knowledgeable, excellent, and experienced legal advocacy for those navigating the complexities of the criminal justice system.

Attorney Fay Arfa graduated from UCLA with academic honors, including Phi Beta Kappa. She then earned a Master's Degree in Public Administration from UCLA. After earning her master's degree, Attorney Arfa spent several years in pubic service. She worked for several years as a Deputy to Zev Yaroslavsky, then councilman of the Fifth District of Los Angeles.

While attending law school at night, Attorney Arfa accepted a law clerk position in a prestigious Century City law firm. After four years of working full time and going to law school at night, Attorney Arfa earned her law degree. She then worked for the United States government as an attorney for the Federal Aviation Administration and later prosecuted criminal cases as a Los Angeles Deputy City Attorney.

Attorney Arfa dedicates herself toward helping all people accused of crimes. She prides herself on giving personal attention and pulling out all the stops for people accused of crimes. She fights as hard as she can for all of her clients and makes sure that all of her clients get the most vigorous defense possible. Attorney Arfa's clients consider her the “Best Defender.”

Certified Specialties:
• Certified Specialist, Criminal Law, The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization
• Certified Specialist, Appellate Law, The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization
• Certified Criminal Trial Advocate, National Board of Trial Advocacy (American Bar Assocation Accredited Organization)

Awards:
• President's Award - The National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) presented Fay Arfa, with the 2025 NBTA 's President's Award. The NBTA member colleagues and staff from across the country have chosen her as one of the "best of the best."
• The National Child Abuse Defense & Resource Center (NCADRC) has deemed her one of the most successful 100 lawyers nationwide.

Admitted:
• California State Bar
• U.S. District Court, Central District of California
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California
• Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
• U.S. Supreme Court

Education:
• GRADUATE: University of California at Los Angeles, Master of Public Administration ( M.P.A.)
• UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGE: University of California at Los Angeles (B.A., cum laude) Phi Beta Kappa.
• LAW SCHOOL: Southwestern University School of Law, J.D.
• GRADUATED: National Criminal Defense College (NCDC)

Member:
Century City Bar:
• President: 2012-2013
• Member, Board of Governors, 1998-2021
• Editor – Century City Bar Newsletter
• Chair: Criminal Law Section 1998-2011
• Chair: Substance Abuse Section, 1997-1998
• Los Angeles County Bar Association – Member – Board of Trustees (2012 – 2013)
• Women's Lawyer Association of Los Angeles
• Criminal Courts Bar Association
• National Association Criminal Defense Lawyers
• California Public Defenders Association
• California Appellate Defense Counsel
• California Attorneys for Criminal Justice
• Los Angeles County Bar Assn.: (Member, Small Firm & Solo Practice Executive Committee, 1996-1997)

Professional Experience:
• Fay Arfa, A Law Corporation
• Deputy, Los Angeles City Attorney
• General Attorney, Federal Aviation Administration
• Deputy, Los Angeles City Council, Fifth Council District
• Government Intern, United States Senate, Washington, D.C.

Publications:
• Author: “Man Wrongly Accused of Rape Released After 10 Years” Century City Lawyer, March, 2016.
• Author: “Hard Lessons Learned From a Hard Drive Crash” Century City Lawyer, October, 2012.
• Author: “Knock, Knock…Who's There? The Police. Do the Police Have a Right to Enter Your House?,” Century City Lawyer, November 2000.

Featured Speaker/Moderator:
• Guest Speaker: “Attacking the SART Exam: A Lawyer's Perspective”” Public Defenders Association of Iowa, 2018
• Moderator: “Stop Tit for Tat Ending Sexual Harassment & Bias” Century City Bar Association 2018
• Moderator “Mesereau on Trials: Qs & As” Century City Bar Association, 2017
• Guest Speaker: “Deconstructing Sexual Exam Findings & History” National Child Abuse Defense & Resource Center, 2016
• Moderator: “Get Up to Speed on Weed” Century City Bar Association, 2010
• Guest Lecturer, “Criminal Law Motion Practice,” Loyola Law School, 2002.
• Guest Speaker, “Alcohol: Effects on Life Liberty and Livelihood,” UCLA School of Law, 1997.
• Speaker, “Substance Abuse: Effects on Life Liberty and Livelihood,” Century City Bar Association, 1997.
• Moderator: “Marijuana – The Good, Bad and Legal (?),” Century City Bar Association, 1997
• Moderator: “Sex Addiction, the Highs, the Lows, the Ups, the Downs, and the Ins and Outs,” Century City Bar Association, 1999.

News Commentator:
• National Public Radio, Sky News, Court TV/CNN.

Reported Cases:
People v. Clark (1989) 212 Cal.App.3d 1233; In re William S. (1989) 208 Cal.App.3d 313; People v. Mitchell (1994) 30 Cal.App.4th 783; People v. Monette (1994) 25 Cal.App.4th 1572;
People v. Ponce (1996) 44 Cal.App.4th 1380; People v. Ellison (1998) 68 Cal.App.4th 203; U.S. v. Robertson, 158 F.3d. 1370 (9th Cir. 1998); People v. Borrelli (2000) 77 Cal.App.4th
703; People v. Young (2001) 92 Cal.App.4th 229; In re Eduardo C. (2001) 90 Cal.App.4th 937; U.S. v. Franklin, 321 F.3d 1231 (9th Cir. 2003);U.S. v. Guo, 634 F.3d 119 (9th Cir. 2011); King
v. Ryan, 564 F.3d 1133 (9th Cir. 2009); Collins v. Runnels, 603 F.3d 1127 (9th Cir. 2010); People v. Sizemore (2009) 175 Cal.App.4th 864; Henderson v. Johnson, 710 F.3d 872 (9th Cir.
2013); Aleman v. Uribe, 723 F.3d 976 (9th Cir. 2013); People v. Demirdjian (2006) 144 Cal.App.4th 10; U.S. v. Franklin, 321 F.3d 1231 (9th Cir. 2003); People v. Aleksanyan (2014)
231 Cal.App.4th Supp.1; People v. Iniguez (2016) 247 Cal.App.4th Supp.1; People v. Johnson (2013) 221 Cal.App.4th 943.
Duke v. Gastelo, 64 F.4th 1088 (9th Cir. 2023).
Gibbs v. Covello, 996 F.3d 596 (9th Cir. 2021).