About Jacoby & Meyers Accident & Injury Lawyers · Los Angeles
Jacoby & Meyers Accident & Injury Lawyers is one of America's most recognized personal injury law firms, founded on September 20, 1972 by Leonard Jacoby and Stephen Meyers as the first 'legal clinic' in the United States. The firm pioneered affordable, high-volume legal services for middle-class families and was the first U.S. law firm to advertise on television after the 1977 Bates v. State Bar of Arizona decision. Today, Jacoby & Meyers operates more than 130 offices nationwide with over 300 attorneys, including a Los Angeles personal injury practice that has recovered over $2 billion in verdicts and settlements for clients across car accidents, wrongful death, and other negligence claims.
Jacoby & Meyers traces its origin to a single storefront law office at 6511 Van Nuys Boulevard in the San Fernando Valley, where Leonard Jacoby (1942–2026) and Stephen Meyers (1943–1996), who had met as students at UCLA School of Law, opened for business in the second week of September 1972. A 1973 Harper's magazine profile described the modest opening-day office — a Naugahyde couch, a philodendron, and a sign reading 'Peace and goodwill are not just words…' — and a notice that an initial consultation cost just $15. By locating in a shopping center and using legal assistants, specialization, and a systematic case-tracking approach, the partners created a model aimed squarely at middle-income Americans who were too wealthy for legal aid but unable to afford traditional law firm fees. The firm became famous for its fight against the California State Bar over attorney advertising. After the local bar association objected to media interviews at the grand opening, Jacoby & Meyers challenged the restrictions; the U.S. Supreme Court's 1977 decision in Bates v. State Bar of Arizona cleared the way, and the firm placed its first ad in the Los Angeles Times the very next day and aired its first television commercials shortly afterward, becoming the first U.S. law firm to advertise on television. By the 1980s, Jacoby & Meyers had grown to roughly 150 offices, and over the following decades it expanded its practice into personal injury, mass torts, product liability, consumer law, bankruptcy, Social Security, and criminal defense. In modern times the firm is best known for its accident and injury practice, and its Los Angeles office — part of a network of more than a dozen California locations and 130+ offices nationwide — represents victims of car, truck, motorcycle, Uber/Lyft, pedestrian, bicycle, drunk-driving, slip-and-fall, dog bite, construction, and wrongful death cases on a contingency fee basis. The firm has recovered over $2 billion in verdicts and settlements (based on past cases; results vary), is recognized by Best Law Firms as Tier 1 in Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs in Los Angeles, and is known for community outreach such as a 2022 backpack and school-supplies giveaway at Dodger Stadium in partnership with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Steve Meyers was inducted into the National Trial Lawyers Advertising Hall of Fame, and Len Jacoby continued leading the firm until his death in January 2026.
- In business
- Founded September 20, 1972 — over 50 years in business
- Owner
- Founded by Leonard Jacoby (1942–2026) and Stephen Meyers (1943–1996), who met as students at UCLA School of Law
- Serves
- All of Los Angeles County — Downtown LA, the San Fernando Valley, Westside, South Bay, Century City, Brentwood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Culver City, West Hollywood, and surrounding communities; statewide practice across 14+ California offices and 130+ offices nationwide
- Rating
- 4.8 stars across approximately 2,202 Google reviews (Los Angeles office); 4.6 stars across 2,310 reviews on Birdeye
Founding Story: America's First Legal Clinic (1972)
On September 20, 1972, UCLA School of Law classmates Leonard Jacoby and Stephen Meyers opened the first Jacoby & Meyers office in a San Fernando Valley shopping center at 6511 Van Nuys Boulevard. The partners saw a gap in the legal market: the wealthy could afford top attorneys, the poor could rely on legal aid, but middle-income Americans had almost nowhere to turn. By using specialization, legal assistants, and a systematic case-tracking approach in a high-volume storefront setting, they launched what is recognized as the first legal clinic in the United States. A 1973 Harper's magazine profile captured the modest opening: a Naugahyde couch, a philodendron, magazines on a coffee table, and a wall sign reading 'Peace and goodwill are not just words…' — with an initial consultation fee of just $15.
- Founded September 20, 1972 in Van Nuys, California
- Co-founders Leonard Jacoby (1942–2026) and Stephen Meyers (1943–1996) met at UCLA School of Law
- First legal clinic in the United States
- Original address: 6511 Van Nuys Blvd, San Fernando Valley
Pioneering Legal Advertising and the Bates Case
Jacoby & Meyers is historically notable as the first U.S. law firm to advertise on television. At the grand opening of the Van Nuys office, the local bar association objected to media interviews as unethical advertising. The firm challenged the rules, and the controversy culminated in the U.S. Supreme Court's 1977 decision in Bates v. State Bar of Arizona, which struck down restrictions on lawyer advertising. Jacoby & Meyers placed its first print ad in the Los Angeles Times the very next day and aired its first television commercials within days, reshaping how law is marketed in America. By the 1980s, the firm had grown to roughly 150 offices, mostly in the Southwest and Northeast.
- Challenged California State Bar advertising rules in the 1970s
- First U.S. law firm to advertise on television (1977)
- First print ad placed in the Los Angeles Times the day after Bates decision
- Expanded to ~150 offices by the 1980s
Los Angeles Personal Injury Practice
The Los Angeles office of Jacoby & Meyers represents injured victims across Los Angeles County — from Downtown LA to the San Fernando Valley, the Westside, South Bay, Century City, Brentwood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Culver City, West Hollywood, and beyond. The team handles the full range of personal injury matters arising from car, truck, motorcycle, Uber/Lyft, bicycle, pedestrian, drunk driving, slip-and-fall, dog bite, and construction accidents, as well as burn injuries, orthopedic injuries, spinal cord and neck injuries, paralysis, amputations, and wrongful death. The firm is recognized by Best Law Firms as Tier 1 in Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs in Los Angeles.
- Century City / Westside headquarters: 2000 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1150S, Los Angeles, CA 90067
- Secondary LA office: 10900 Wilshire Blvd, 15th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90024
- 24/7 hotline: (213) 296-0792
- Service area covers all of Los Angeles County
Fee Structure and Accessibility
True to the founders' original mission of making legal help affordable, Jacoby & Meyers represents personal injury clients on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront costs to start a case, attorney fees typically depend on whether compensation is recovered, and in many cases no legal fees are charged if there is no recovery — with specific terms always explained during the initial consultation. The firm manages all communication and negotiation with insurance companies so clients can focus on healing. Free consultations are available 24/7 by phone, online form, or live chat, in English and Spanish (consultas gratuitas).
- No upfront costs to start a case
- Contingency fee representation
- No recovery, no legal fees in many cases
- Free 24/7 consultations in English and Spanish
Practice Areas Across the Firm
While best known today for personal injury, Jacoby & Meyers is a full-service law firm that has expanded from its original general-practice roots. Over the decades the firm has added practice areas including product liability, mass torts and pharmaceutical litigation, bankruptcy, Social Security disability, criminal defense, and consumer legal services. In 2012, the firm began selling online legal forms, becoming one of the first U.S. law firms to follow the no-frills model of LegalZoom and Rocket Lawyer. More than 300 attorneys now practice across all 50 states, supported by 130+ offices.
- Personal injury and wrongful death (core practice)
- Product liability and mass torts / pharmaceutical litigation
- Bankruptcy and Social Security disability
- Criminal defense and consumer legal services
- Online legal forms (launched 2012)
Notable Results, Awards, and Recognition
Jacoby & Meyers reports having recovered over $2 billion in verdicts and settlements for clients (based on past cases; results vary and do not guarantee a similar outcome). The firm is ranked Tier 1 in Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs for Los Angeles by Best Law Firms (a Best Lawyers / U.S. News publication) and is listed on Martindale-Hubbell. In 2022, Stephen Meyers was inducted into the National Trial Lawyers Advertising Hall of Fame, and that same year the firm partnered with the Los Angeles Dodgers to host a backpack and school-supplies giveaway at Dodger Stadium. Founder Len Jacoby passed away on January 11, 2026, at age 83.
- Over $2 billion in reported verdicts and settlements
- Best Law Firms Tier 1 – Personal Injury Litigation, Plaintiffs (Los Angeles)
- National Trial Lawyers Advertising Hall of Fame (2022)
- 2022 Dodger Stadium backpack and school-supplies giveaway with the LA Dodgers
California Statute of Limitations and Timing
The firm's Los Angeles practice emphasizes that California has strict deadlines for injury claims. For most personal injury claims, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the accident — failing to file within that window typically means losing the right to compensation. Claims against government entities (for example, a city bus accident or a slip and fall on public property) usually must be filed within six months, and given the bureaucracy involved the firm urges clients to preserve evidence and act quickly.
- Two-year statute of limitations for most California personal injury claims
- Six-month deadline for many claims against government entities
- Free 24/7 consultation to evaluate timing for your case
Getting Started: Free Case Review
Prospective clients can reach the Los Angeles personal injury team any time of day or night by calling (213) 296-0792, filling out the online form, or using live chat on the firm's website. A representative will gather the basic facts of the accident and schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with an attorney. Because the firm works on contingency, there is no charge to start a case, and the team handles all communication and negotiation with insurance companies on the client's behalf.
- Call the 24/7 hotline: (213) 296-0792
- Request a free consultation online or via live chat
- Spanish-language intake available (consultas gratuitas)