Mr. Lawrence was born and raised in
Indiana and attended Indiana University, graduating in 1976
with High Distinction from the School of Business. He
attended the University of Arizona School of Law in Tucson,
Arizona, where he received his Juris Doctorate degree in 1980 and was admitted to the bars of Arizona and California in 1980 and 1986, respectively.
Mr. Lawrence began his legal career with the Pima County Attorney’s Office in
Tucson, Arizona, where he remained from 1980 through 1985. He specialized in prosecution of sexual assault and child molestation cases.
In 1992, Mr. Lawrence,
along with George Franscell, Tracy Strickland, and Barbara Roberts, founded the law firm of Franscell, Strickland, Roberts & Lawrence.
In May of 2000, Mr.
Lawrence was named "Attorney of the Year 2000" by the
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for exemplary performance
representing the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department while
maintaining the highest standards of ethics and integrity.
Mr. Lawrence has been a guest lecturer on matters relating to employment law, public entity defense, civil rights litigation and appellate practice before the National Institute of
Municipal Law Officers, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and various public entities, police and sheriffs’ departments.
Areas of Practice
Mr. Lawrence has tried numerous police misconduct, civil rights, employment and personal injury jury trials in the federal and state courts.
He has handled a number of high profile civil cases including defense of the City of Manhattan Beach in the McMartin Preschool related litigation. He is also an active appellate attorney having argued
numerous cases before the California Courts of Appeal, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Arizona Courts of Appeal, the Arizona Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court. In November of
1998, he successfully argued City of West Covina v. Perkins before the United States Supreme Court.
Bar Admissions and Memberships
1986, California State Bar
1986, U.S. District Court, Central, Northern, Southern and Eastern Districts of California
1986, United States Supreme Court
1986, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
1980, Arizona State Bar
1980, U.S. District Court, District of Arizona
American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA)
Los Angeles County Bar Association
International Association of Chiefs of Police
California Peace Officers’ Association
