CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION

THE BOARD OF PAROLE HEARINGS (BPH)

Life Parole Consideration Hearings, Mentally Disorder Offender Hearings, and Probable Cause Hearings (Sexually Violent Predators)

                                                                                                                   California   October 2010-Present                                                                                                                                                                   

• Contract attorney representing inmates before the BPH Hearing Panel who were sentenced to life terms in order to determine whether or not the person is suitable for parole; mentally disordered inmates who are being ordered to receive treatment at Atascadero State Hospital or Patton State Hospital; and inmates accused of being sexually violent predators. 

UNIVERSITY OF THE PACIFIC, MCGEORGE SCHOOL OF LAW

INSTITUTE OF ADMINISTRATIVE JUSTICE, CALIFORNIA PAROLE ADVOCACY PROGRAM

                                                                                                      Los Angeles, California   July 2009-Present                                                                                                                                                               

• Contract attorney representing parolees accused of violating the terms and conditions of their parole providing passionate advocacy to avoid further incarceration.
• Research, analyze, and evaluate alleged parole violations.  Interview parolees to ascertain facts  and defenses.
• Examine the case, investigate all issues, organize information, present facts through witnesses and evidence to the Deputy Commissioner of the Board of Parole Hearings.
• Negotiate resolutions directly with Deputy Commissioners of the Board of Parole Hearings.
• Participated in over five hundred probable cause hearings and over one hundred revocation hearings pursuant to Title 15 of the California Code of Regulations.

LAWRENCE S. STRAUSS, Los Angeles, California & Honolulu, Hawaii April 1993–December 2005

  June 2007-Present                                                                                                                                             

• Lead counsel or sole counsel in at least twenty jury trials with a minimum length of three days, plus at least two hundred non-jury trials/arbitrations. Attended over three hundred mediations/settlement conferences.  Since 1991 have prepared and prosecuted to conclusion, either by trial or settlement, over seven hundred fifty cases.
• Interviewed witnesses, site inspections, propounded and responded to interrogatories, document productions, inspections, and admissions. 
• Took and defended depositions, filed motions, argued and requested jury instructions.
• Selected expert witnesses based on issues of the case.
• Examined and cross-examined all types of fact witnesses and expert witnesses.
• Met deadlines for pretrial procedures, trials, and appeals.

• Managed a private law practice for over thirteen years, including all aspects of administration, accountability for profit and loss, technology issues, controlling costs, and achieving revenue objectives.
• Recruited, supervised, motivated, and evaluated employees including clerical staff, paralegals, law clerks, and attorneys.
• Panel attorney for the State of Hawaii Family Court, District Court, and Circuit Court of the First Circuit.
• Practice areas include family law, criminal law, personal injury, worker’s compensation, real property, foreclosure defense, eviction defense, landlord tenant, debt collection, employment law, entertainment law, civil rights, transactional matters (negotiating, drafting, and review), intellectual property, and business litigation.

OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEY, COUNTY OF KAUAI, Lihue, Hawaii            January 2006–June 2007

• Investigated and researched factual basis of cases to prepare for trial. 
• Interpreted and applied laws, court decisions and other legal authorities for use in preparation of cases, opinions and briefs.   
• Prepared pleadings and other legal documents in connection with trials, hearings and other legal proceedings. 
• Conducted extensive legal research using independent judgment, discretion, and initiative. 
• Interviewed and advised police officers, victims, and witnesses in regard to prospective criminal complaints. 
• Negotiated plea agreements with opposing counsel.
• First assignment was Circuit Court misdemeanor jury demands and Juvenile Family Court which included all misdemeanor and felony cases:  Established contacts with all Kauai County middle schools and high schools in an attempt to establish a limited P.A.V.E. (Prosecutor Advocates Violence Education) program. Corresponded with Teen Court.
• Second assignment was District Court.  Vertical prosecution including screening of all criminal cases and traffic cases.  Responsibilities included traffic de novo trials, petty misdemeanor, and misdemeanor bench trials. 
• Last assignment was District Court and Circuit Court:  Preliminary hearings and grand jury proceedings. Circuit Court felony and misdemeanor jury trials. Circuit Court sentencing hearings.
• “On Call” duties included communicating with police officers after hours and on weekends, and reviewing custody packages.
• Trained Kauai Police Department (KPD) Recruits regarding criminal laws of various offenses and new attorneys regarding court procedures and computer technology.
• Member of several committees such as Kauai’s juvenile drug court, juvenile justice, District Court, and jail diversion program for mental-health candidates.
• Received training in sexual assault cases, trial advocacy classes, PowerPoint, KPD firearms (qualified to carry a weapon), and effectively dealing with difficult people.

ENSOTECH, INC., Sun Valley, California                                                                                    January 1992–April 1993

• Directly responsible for all legal matters affecting Ensotech.  Managed day-to-day corporate housekeeping, corporate expansion, and supervised outside counsel. 
• Oversaw insurance, risk management, legal cost containment, contracts and leases. 
• Prepared defense for all significant legal claims, disputes and litigation. 
• Supervised a secretary and legal assistant. 
• Performed a variety of legal services. Handled all in-house legal transactions with concentration on customer claims, and litigation.  Played a significant role in all I.T. issues. 

AER LABS, INC., Sun Valley, California                                                                                        August 1992–April 1993

• Corporate Secretary for analytical laboratory.
• Organized the corporation and drafted the articles, bylaws, and minutes.
• Responsible for all license, rules, and regulatory compliance.
• Maintained the corporate records and executed corporate documents when necessary.

FRED SANDS REALTORS, Los Angele, California                                                            August 1991–December 1991

• Received certificate for completion of Fred Sands training course.
• Licensed residential real estate broker.
  

KAUAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Lihue, Hawaii                                                                                                   April 2007

• OCET Classes (PowerPoint, How To Effectively Deal with Difficult People)

GLENDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Glendale, California                                                                      December 2003

§         Certificate in Aviation Magna Cum Laude (Scholarship Recipient)

LOYOLA LAW SCHOOL, Los Angele, California                                                                                                  May 1991

• J.D. Emphasis: Commercial Lending and Bankruptcy

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, Los Angeles, California                                                        May 1988

§         B.S. Finance, Emphasis: Real Estate, Investments, and Entrepreneurship

§         Magna Cum Laude (Top 5% in Undergraduate Business School)

U.S. CENTRAL DISTRICT BANKRUPTCY COURT, Los Angeles, California         January 1991–April 1991

• Extern for the Honorable Barry Russell, Chief Judge.
• Prepared matters set for calendar, researched various legal issues, and drafted bench memorandum for the 9th Circuit BAP.
• Attended Norton Institute of Bankruptcy Seminar and Los Angeles Bankruptcy Litigation Conference where Judge Russell lectured.

U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, Glendale, California                                          May 1990–August 1990

• Researched legal issues such as foreclosure and statute of limitation problems.
• Drafted memorandum sent to the U.S. Attorney’s Office that was relied upon in trial preparation.
• Determined eligibility of entities for financial assistance.

• Hawaii, 2005
• California, 1991

• United States District Court, Hawaii
• United States District Court, Central District of California
• United States District Court, Eastern District of California
• United States District Court, Southern District of California
• United States Court of Federal Claims, Washington D.C

• Coach/Asst. Coach/Referee VNSO Rec. Center Youth Sports
• FAA private pilot’s license holder
• PADI scuba diver
• Working knowledge of Spanish
• Piano
• Candidate, 2003 California Gubernatorial Recall Election
• Numerous scholastic awards and honors

• PC, windows and DOS
• HTML Programming
• All basic software including word processing, Internet, presentation, e-mail, and research programs.

• Available Upon Request