Megan T. Burns

Partner

Megan Burns

Megan Burns

Rated by Super Lawyers

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Megan Burns fights for justice on behalf of her clients whether they are charged with a crime or seeking recovery after being injured through no fault of their own. While Ms. Burns has successfully negotiated hundreds of cases, she is also an aggressive and experienced trial attorney. With close to twenty years of litigation experience in private practice and as a deputy public defender, Ms. Burns possesses the skills necessary to secure the best outcome for her clients. Ms. Burns has tried over fifty jury trials and is regularly invited to speak regarding trial skills by professional organizations and public agencies. She is currently on the Board of Directors for the Alameda County Bar Association (President-Elect) and a member of the Earl Warren Inns of Court.

Ms. Burns has diverse experience representing plaintiffs in civil cases from catastrophic industrial accidents to minor traffic collisions. In one of their recent civil jury trial victories in Alameda County, Megan Burns and Emily Dahm secured a jury verdict that was nearly triple the final offer from the insurance company for one of their seriously injured clients. Many years ago, when one of her clients was illegally arrested for political speech, Ms. Burns helped file a civil rights lawsuit that resulted in an important First Amendment decision by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Big case or small case, Ms. Burns enjoys helping people through a difficult time in their lives. While Ms. Burns cannot guarantee a particular outcome, her successful record demonstrates her unyielding commitment to fiercely advocating for her clients.

In her criminal defense practice, Ms. Burns has worked on nearly every type of criminal case imaginable from special circumstances homicide to drunk driving. She spent many years advocating for indigent defendants at the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office, arguably the best criminal defense firm in the United States.

She graduated with honors from Boston College in 1999 and earned her law degree from Lewis & Clark Law School in 2004. She lives in Oakland and enjoys hiking in the California Redwoods, international travel and science fiction.

Areas of Practice:

  • Plaintiff Personal Injury
  • Criminal Defense

Bar Admissions:

  • All California state courts
  • U.S. District Court Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court Eastern District of California

Professional Associations and Memberships:

  • Alameda County Bar Association (Board of Directors and President-Elect)
  • Earl Warren Inns of Court (Member)
  • Eastern Alameda County Bar Association (Member)
  • Legal Access Alameda (Board of Directors, Emeritus)
  • California Attorneys for Criminal Justice (Board of Directors, Emeritus)
  • Women Defenders (Board of Directors, Emeritus)

Certifications:

  • Certified Specialist in Criminal Law, The State Bar of California

Education:

  • J.D., Lewis & Clark Law School, Portland, Oregon, 2004
  • Undergraduate Degree, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, 1999

Honors:

  • Cum Laude
  • Dean’s Commendation
  • Speaker for Graduating Class for School of Business at Boston College

State Bar of California. California Board of Legal Specialization