Attorney Brian Michaels

Criminal Defense Attorney Brian Michaels is a 4th generation Angeleno. Attorney Michaels grew up in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles and later moved with his family to the San Fernando Valley where he attended and graduated from Birmingham High School. He attended the University of California Santa Barbara and graduated in 1988, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with an emphasis in International Relations.

In the early 1990’s Mr. Michaels attended the University of Laverne, College of Law where he rocketed to success. Mr. Michaels attained the #1 ranking in his class for consecutive years. Because of his high academic achievement, attorney Michaels received an academic scholarship from the University of Laverne.

Mr. Michaels was one of two students in his class of several hundred who qualified, based on academic achievement alone, to receive the most prestigious honor all law students strive for by becoming a member of the campus Law Review. As a 2nd year law student, Mr. Michaels published multiple scholarly Law Review Articles for the Journal of Juvenile Law.

In his third year of Law School Mr. Michaels was further rewarded for his high academic work by receiving a prestigious and competitive Judicial Clerkship with the California Court of Appeals. He wrote numerous decisions for Associate Justice Earl Johnson Jr, one of which is still a precedent setting case.

After graduation Mr. Michaels passed the State Bar Exam on his first attempt and received an employment offer to work as a Prosecutor for the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office. He was a personal hire by then City Attorney James Hahn.

During his eight years at the City Attorney’s Office, Attorney Michaels became one of the offices’ most prolific trial lawyers. He worked in the criminal division for more than six years and tried over 75 criminal jury trials to verdict with a 95% conviction rate. He also worked as a trial mentor for new hires and outside attorneys who were being trained in trial skills by the City Attorney’s Office.

As the Cities legal counsel, Attorney Michaels also had the opportunity to work for the Division assigned to defend the City against civil lawsuits. He was later selected to work in the highly competitive Police Litigation Unit at the height of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Rampart scandal. Despite the charged atmosphere in the City surrounding the scandal, attorney Michaels won all his Federal Court jury trials in favor of the L.A.P.D.

In 2002, Attorney Michaels decided it was time to move into private practice, fulfilling his life long ambition of defending individuals caught up in the criminal justice system. Since that time Mr. Michaels has been the owner and lead attorney at the Law Offices of Brian Michaels, a full service criminal defense firm that services clients throughout Southern California.

Mr. Michaels has handled hundreds of criminal cases as a defense attorney a year. Attorney Michaels has represented clients accused of Murder, Manslaughter, Child Molestation, Embezzlement, Gang Enhancements, Felony Hit and Run, Felony Driving Under the Influence, Witness Intimidation, Obstruction of Justice, Rape, Vandalism, Drugs Sales, Transportation of Drugs, Marijuana Cultivation, Possession of Drugs, Weapon Possession, Solicitation of Prostitution, Misdemeanor DUI, Assault and Battery, Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Juvenile Crimes, White Collar Crimes, Suspended License Charges, DMV hearings and dozens of other criminal charges.

Mr. Michaels brings unparalled experience working inside law enforcement and a prosecuting agency to assist individuals charged with crimes and related administrative proceedings. His current practice is a diverse criminal practice, which focuses almost exclusively on both misdemeanor and felony criminal and DUI prosecutions.

Based in Los Angeles, Mr. Michaels and his associates now handle cases throughout Southern California and currently represent clients as far north as Santa Barbara and as far south as San Diego. The majority of his cases are in Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura Counties.

Attorney Michaels has obtained favorable results for clients charged with simple misdemeanors, DUI’s, and more serious felonies. He has kept hundreds of individuals charged with crimes from ever seeing a day of jail time on their case. Moving into his 18th year of practice attorney Michaels brings his wealth of trial experience and considerable contacts in the courts and prosecuting agencies throughout Southern California to bear for his clients.

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