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James Owens is the founder and principal attorney of Owens Defense, P.C. He concentrates his practice in criminal defense and other high-stakes legal matters with significant potential impact on his clients’ lives, careers, and reputations.
James knows firsthand what is at stake for his clients, and he understands, from every angle, the legal process they are facing. Before establishing his own practice, James worked as a Deputy District Attorney in both Alameda and Contra Costa Counties in California where he oversaw hundreds of arraignments, conducted dozens of preliminary hearings, and won multiple jury trials. This experience provided invaluable insight into how criminal matters are charged, how prosecutors build cases, and the weak points at which they can be challenged. James now puts that insider knowledge to work defending the rights and futures of his clients.
Before becoming a prosecutor, James clerked for several judges on the Los Angeles Superior Court. His time analyzing complex legal issues and drafting tentative rulings gave him a unique perspective on how courts make decisions and the type of arguments judges find persuasive. Through diligent preparation and his ability to handle sensitive and complex evidence, James earned a role on several high-profile cases during his time with the court.
James’s experience with the justice system isn’t just professional—it’s also personal. As a student at UC Berkeley, James faced, and overcame, a felony charge. From job prospects to his relationship with his family, it affected every area of his life. He was fortunate to have an attorney who believed in him and who understood the many ways that criminal allegations can impact a person’s future. Through effective advocacy, James was given the opportunity to turn his life around. The charges were dismissed, he re-enrolled at Cal, and earned a scholarship to law school.
Having lived through it himself, James knows exactly what's at stake in the legal process. He takes pride in protecting his clients at one of the most critical and stressful moments of their lives. With his broad experience across the legal system and deep knowledge of defense law, James takes a comprehensive approach to every matter he accepts. His focus goes beyond defeating criminal charges and reducing legal penalties to strategically managing the broader potential effects on reputations, relationships, and livelihoods, especially in high-profile cases or cases that require discretion.
James’s commitment to serving others is not limited to his legal practice. He serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for Conard House, one of San Francisco’s oldest and largest nonprofits for supportive housing and mental health services. In his free time, James can often be found playing pick-up basketball on courts and at rec centers around San Francisco.
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