General Info

Attorneys at Callister & Hendricks have been serving clients in the Central Valley of California for over 35 years. We are located in the City of Merced, which is at the very center of our Golden State. Our firm has a long record of providing superior legal services to our clients. Our clients include individuals, businesses, and farmers, many of whom are leaders in industry, education and agriculture in the Merced area and in the Central Valley. We also represent several Special Districts. Our business clients come from diverse industries such as healthcare, agriculture, transportation, real estate, construction, engineering, and both retail and wholesale commercial. Our individual clients come from all walks of life and ethnic backgrounds. Callister & Hendricks encourages the creation of long-term, successful client relationships, provides a broad range of legal services to our clients, and strives to provide a positive influence in our community and in the Central Valley. Callister & Hendricks was initially founded by Hugh Griswold in the 1930s. Over the years, the firm has been known by several different names, including Hugh Griswold, Attorney at Law, Griswold & Adams, Griswold & Barrett, Griswold & Callister, Griswold, Callister & Hendricks, and now Callister & Hendricks, A Professional Law Corporation. Hugh Griswold initially began the practice when valley cowboys still toted guns and judges rode circuit. Hugh recounted cases involving cattle rustlers, bank robberies in places once famous like Indian Gulch and Hornitos. The firm serves many immigrants who came from various countries to start farms, ranches and businesses in the Central Valley. Our current clients include descendants of those original farming and business immigrants from Japan, Italy, Portugal, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and many parts of Europe. They are representative of the vast multicultural and ethnic make-up of the Central Valley. In 1972 Jerry E. Callister joined the firm just as George Barrett was appointed Superior Court judge and Hugh Griswold was initiating his retirement. Bruce J. Hendricks joined the firm in 1973. In 2007, Stuart B. Spencer became an associate with the firm, and Aaron N. Castleton became an associate in 2010. In addition, the firm has employed many local young men and women as summer interns as they progressed through college and law school. Both Jerry E. Callister and Bruce J. Hendricks have served as president of the Merced County Bar Association, have served as arbitrators in various disputes, and Mr. Hendricks has served as Superior Court Judge Pro Tem and as a mediator. Our attorneys are active in several local organizations and efforts, and the firm has sponsored a number of youth athletic teams and community events. Our firm believes strongly in working to keep Merced a great community, with an eye toward constant improvement. Both Jerry Callister and Bruce Hendricks have been active and contributing members of local service clubs for many years, and have played key roles in local businesses, churches and leadership that have sought to contribute to the Merced community.