MCGREGOR LAW CORP.
Southern California Criminal Defense
EARLY LIFE
I'm a California native, born about thirty years ago and raised locally in Orange County.
My Dad owned his own airfreight business and then moved into mortgage banking and my mom was a public defender (and later a law professor). Growing up I listened to a lot of my mom's "war stories" from court and knew from a young age that I wanted to grow up to practice criminal defense.
That's a picture of me as a toddler. I'd be embarrassed by it if I didn't think it was so funny. I still love pasta, but I've figured out a way to be a little less messy.
EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE
SAN FRANCISCO STATE UNIVERSITY
I earned my two bachelor's degrees from San Francisco State University in Criminal Justice and Political Science. I graduated from San Francisco State University with honors in 2009 as the Criminal Justice class's graduate speaker.
I also held down a job, worked a few semesters as a teacher's assistant for a few of my criminal justice professors, and took every chance I got to immerse myself in fieldwork in the community.
USF SCHOOL OF LAW
I spent the next few years obtaining my Juris Doctorate from the University of San Francisco School of Law. I was active in the Criminal Law Society and focused my course work on advanced constitutional law, administrative procedure, evidence, and criminal law.
During law school I worked as a companion / caregiver for adults with disabilities while volunteering my time for several legal causes.
SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE
When I was working through law school I interned in the San Francisco Office of the Public Defender for about a year and a half. I earned the privilege to try criminal cases under the supervision of a licensed attorney in open court before I had even graduated law school.
I drafted motions, appeared in court on the record, sat second-chair at trial, and supervised interns of my own all before I passed the California State Bar. I'm very proud of that, I loved my work in the office and I learned a lot about responsibility and hard work early in my legal career.
MCGREGOR AND ERNENWEIN, LLP.
After finishing law school in 2013 and taking the California State Bar, I moved back down to Southern California to be closer to my family.
Once I was in Southern California I got my foot in the door at the established criminal defense firm McGregor and Ernenwein, LLP. I started out as a law clerk, worked my way up to an appearance attorney, and eventually was taken on as a full-time associate. That's where I met Bruce.
MCGREGOR LAW CORP.
When McGregor and Ernenwein LLP. dissolved I decided to follow Bruce and together we set up McGregor Law Corp.
I've worked exclusively in criminal defense with Bruce for seven years now. We have a good system that combines his legal experience with my skill set.
WORK ETHIC
I like to work. I've been working since high school. I put myself through college and law school (Mom and Dad helped out with college, I'll admit, but law school was all on me). I've worked in construction, private security, real estate, university residential services, the food industry, as an electrician, and as a caregiver for adults with disabilities. I really value the experience and perspective that working different jobs has given me. I don't shy away from putting in the hours.
COMPASSIONATE LEGAL DEFENSE
Every job I've ever had has been about working with and helping people. That isn't a mistake. I care about people and I'm very protective of people close to me.
I can't always promise things will be easy for my clients, but I can promise that I'll work hard, listen, and be there for them. I respond to e-mails and return phone calls. I treat people with dignity and respect.
I try to be the kind of lawyer that I would want to have defend me.
FREE TIME
When I'm not putting in the hours at the Firm, I'm probably playing with power tools, a 20-sided dice, or my son.
Thanks for stopping by, feel free to reach out to me.