Ray Chen
Office of the Alternate Defender, County of Orange
Laguna Niguel,CA
31
years of professional experience
Highly skilled criminal trial attorney with extensive courtroom experience, specializing in complex legal strategies and effective communication. Proven success in achieving favorable outcomes in high-stakes cases.
Work History
Senior Attorney
26 Years- Highly successful criminal trial attorney. Led complex legal cases, including 9 murder trials, with extensive trial experience in the most serious of criminal matters.
- Litigated in excess of 120 criminal jury trials, including murder, rape, sexual assault, gang crimes, and crimes involving the use of weapons. Have for the past 20 years, only handled cases involving potential life sentences.
- Extremely experienced, effective, and skilled in courtroom procedure, examination of witnesses, and trial strategy.
- Mentored junior attorneys, enhancing their litigation skills and case management techniques.
- Developed strategic legal arguments that influenced case outcomes in criminal defense matters.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to address clients' needs and provide comprehensive defense strategies.
- Conducted extensive legal research to stay abreast of evolving legal trends and inform strategic decision-making for clients'' benefit.
- Coordinated with expert witnesses to build compelling evidence in support of client claims during litigation or negotiations.
- Developed comprehensive legal strategies for clients to address both immediate concerns and long-term objectives.
- Mentored junior attorneys, fostering professional development through guidance and support in their legal practice.
- Delivered persuasive oral arguments in court hearings, effectively advocating for client positions and achieving desired results.
- Prepared detailed memoranda summarizing complex legal issues for internal team members or external partners'' understanding.
- Negotiated favorable settlements for clients through effective communication and persuasive argumentation techniques.
- Managed high-profile litigation cases, upholding client reputation while securing favorable outcomes in court proceedings.
- Prepared and filed pleadings, motions and other legal documents in court proceedings.
- Analyzed legal documents and identified pertinent issues for clients.
Staff Attorney
5 Years 6 Months- Represented clients in dependency hearings, advocating for children's best interests.
- Drafted legal documents, ensuring compliance with court procedures and regulations.
- Conducted thorough case analysis to identify key issues and develop effective strategies.
- Collaborated with social workers, guardians ad litem, and other stakeholders to enhance case outcomes.
- Mentored junior attorneys on legal research methods and court presentation skills.
- Analyzed legislative changes impacting child welfare, advising team on necessary adjustments to practices.
- Managed caseload efficiently by prioritizing tasks based on urgency and importance while meeting strict deadlines.
Education
J.D.
- Passed California Bar Exam, administered July 1995
- Dean's List 1995
- Vice-President, Public Interest Law Foundation
- Secretary, Asian Pacific Law Student's Association
L.L.M., (Not Completed)
Bachelor of Arts - Social Ecology
Skills
Legal analysis
Legal research
Legal writing
Legal drafting
Document review
Client counseling
White collar crime defense
Trial experience
Criminal law
Argument writing
Westlaw expertise
Litigation
Juvenile Delinquency and Dependency law
Accomplishments
- Promoted to Senior Attorney in the shortest time in the history of the office.
- Most experienced attorney in current office in terms of homicide, and gang crime trials
- Extremely successful trial outcomes and verdicts in the most serious and complex criminal cases.
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Chinese (Mandarin)
Limited Working
German
Limited Working
Swedish
Elementary
Interests
Former piano teacher with concert-level skill
Music enthusiast
Backpacking and Hiking
Timeline
Senior Attorney
Office of the Alternate Defender, County of Orange
07.2000 - CurrentRead More
Staff Attorney
Children's Law Center of California (Formerly Dependency Court Legal Services)
01.1995 - 07.2000Read More
Whittier College School of Law
J.D.
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Loyola University, Chicago
L.L.M., (Not Completed)
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University of California, Irvine
Bachelor of Arts from Social Ecology
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