OUR STAFF

SENIOR TRIAL ATTORNEY BRIAN MICHAELS

Senior litigation attorney Brian Michaels is an 18 year veteran of the Southern California Criminal Courts. Attorney Michaels began his career in Santa Barbara while attending the University of California, Santa Barbara where he still has deep roots. As an undergrad Michaels worked for the Legal Aid Center of Santa Barbara. Later, Michaels would go on to be an honors law student, ranked #1 in his class ultimately graduating Law School with high honors. As a result of his academic achievement he was one of two students who qualified for a prestigious Law Review position where he published several scholarly articles.

During Law School, and as a result of his academic achievement, he was chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a Clerk for the California Court of Appeals where he clerked for Associate Justice Earl Johnson Jr. Michaels wrote several memorandum opinion for the court, one of which became precedent setting law in the State.

After passing the California State Bar on his first attempt Michaels was hand picked by then Los Angeles City Attorney James Hahn to work first as a Criminal Prosecutor and later as a Civil Litigation Attorney for the Los Angeles Police Department at the height of the infamous Rampart Scandal.

During his tenure with the City Attorney's Office Michaels tried nearly 80 civil and criminal jury trials, more than most attorneys in the state will try in their career, with only two defeats. Michaels distinguished trial accomplishments lead to advancement and acclaim within his office and in the courts.

In 2002 Michaels retired from the City Attorney to pursue his dream of opening his own law firm. Early in his private career Michaels handled both Civil and Criminal Litigation. Over time, attorney Michaels has focused more of his attention on his Criminal Defense practice, though he still practices in the Civil Courts.

Over the last 10 years Michaels has successfully defended hundreds of clients charged with offenses ranging from DUI cases to high grade Felonies including Homicide cases. Attorney Michaels maintains a full time criminal practice and continues to accept criminal cases in other areas of the law in addition to consulting on the civil aspects of enforcement and licensing. Attorney Michaels is also building a new state of the art trial advocacy program for young lawyers in Los Angeles designed to teach the art of the winning jury trial.

Brian Michaels is a member of the California State Bar, Los Angeles, Ventura and Orange County State Barr, Americans For Safe Access, California DUI Lawyer's Association, California Association of Criminal Trial Lawyers, and NORML.

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Associate Attorney Sarah Taylor Sarah Taylor grew up in Houston, Texas and attended Texas A&M University. There Ms. Taylor earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies with an emphasis in Communication. Ms. Taylor went on to attend South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas, earning her J.D. degree and graduating summa cum laude. In her time at South Texas College of Law, Ms. Taylor was awarded several honors, including being named on the Dean's list every semester and receiving the Dean's merit scholarship. Ms. Taylor earned the highest grade in eight of her classes and received a position on the esteemed law review.

Ms. Taylor has experience working at two of the top District Attorney's offices in the nation. During law school, she worked for two years as a law clerk for the Harris County District Attorney's Office in their Crimes Against Children Division. Ms. Taylor assisted attorneys in prosecuting hundreds of child abuse cases.

After her second year of law school, Ms. Taylor made her way to Los Angeles where she became a certified law clerk at the Inglewood Branch Office of the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office. In her time there, she conducted felony preliminary hearings and won several motions admitting and excluding evidence. Upon graduating law school, Ms. Taylor moved back to Los Angeles to take the California Bar Exam and joined our team as a legal assistant.

Ms. Taylor is excited to be finally following her dream to become a criminal defense attorney. Ms. Taylor will be working as an associate to Attorney Michaels and will, among other things, be working on much of the legal research and writing involved in the practice as well as direct client contacts and business development.

PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS

IN ADDITION TO OUR FULL TIME STAFF, THE LAW OFFICE OF BRIAN MICHAELS UTILIIZES PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS THAT ASSIST COUNSEL WITH CRIMINAL AND ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS AND INCLUDE FORMER LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT AND LOS ANGELES SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATORS.