It is important that, as an attorney, I have clients who feel they can be open and honest with me about their legal problems. Trust is a crucial element in the attorney-client relationship. For that reason, I want to share a little of my personal background.
I grew up in a relatively poor community in Central California called Cutler-Orosi. It is a small, densely populated group of towns consisting mostly of migrant farm workers. Early on I started playing music. I was a guitarist and singer for a band since the age of 13. I lived the rock and roll lifestyle until my early twenties. By that time I was a high school dropout, with no job experience, and rapidly learning that the life of a rocker isn’t very lucrative.
After starting a family, I had to get a real job, and I started selling hotdogs at a local hotdog stand. When my second child was about to be born, I realized that this income wasn’t going to carry me or my family very far. So, with the encouragement of my lovely girlfriend (later to become my lovely wife), I went back to school.
I began taking paralegal courses at the local community college. Within two weeks, I was completely hooked: I knew, 100%, that I wanted to be an attorney. After getting straight A’s for two years during the paralegal program, I went straight to a law school in Clovis, California.
Law school was very difficult (no big surprise). I was working full-time as a paralegal, and I also had a wife and two small kids at home. Because of my passion to learn everything I could about the law, I received 5 awards for ranking top in the following classes: Evidence, Advanced Research and Writing, Remedies, Legal Process, Contract Drafting. I also received an award for my Pro Bono legal services. I was prepared to take one of the toughest exams in any occupation, the Bar exam. Many new law school graduates do not pass this exam the first time, but I did.
Prior to ending law school, my wife and I decided to move to southern California so that we could be closer to her family. I wanted to move to Riverside because it seemed like an ideal location to start a practice.
After working at the local courthouse, I decided to take the plunge and go out on my own. It has always been my goal to have my own law office.
I hope this brief bio helps you understand a little bit about me and where I have come from. My resume is also available on the website. If you have any questions regarding my experience or qualifications, you can contact me by phone, email or Facebook.
