024: Michael Fell of the Law Offices of Michael Fell on Criminal Defense and Marsy’s Law

What makes a Lawpreneur? Listen as Michael Fell, of the Law Offices of Michael Fell, shares what inspired him to hang out his shingle, and his advice to you.

Michael Fell is a former Orange County Senior Deputy District Attorney.  While an Orange County prosecutor for over 18 years, Mr. Fell handled many high profile cases and prosecuted various criminal offenses including, but not limited to: Murder, Arson, Gang cases, Sexual Offenses, and Organized Crime.  While with the OCDA’s Office, Mr. Fell was recognized for his efforts in receiving the prestigious Ambassador of Peace Award from the Violence Prevention Coalition of Orange County in 2003.  Mr. Fell has also received accolades and awards from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Community Services Program (CSP)/Victim Witness of Orange County and the Constitutional Rights Foundation of Orange County.

After leaving the DA’s Office, Mr. Fell spent two years as the California Senior Trial Counsel for a civil law firm where he negotiated and litigated multi-million dollar civil cases.  He left the civil firm in 2009 to open his own practice – here he concentrates on representing those accused of various criminal defenses.

Through his years working as a top prosecutor with the Orange County DA’s Office, Mr. Fell knows how cases are prosecuted by his former office and the evidence needed to “file” charges against those being accused or arrested.  Many times, he is able to speak to DAs who are reviewing the police reports written by the arresting officer and avoid charges being filed.

Mr. Fell also is a proponent of “creative sentencing.”  In this sense, he feels that jail is seldom the appropriate punishment for his clients.  He is very proactive in negotiating with DAs in resolving his clients’ cases, whenever possible, for dispositions other than incarceration.

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Listen to the podcast

Fail fast to succeed faster

• Mike attributes his success to doing what he loves.  Do what you love and the money will follow.

Tell us something good

• A highlight of Mike’s career has been doing the right thing.  As a prosecutor he was able to put people away who were a menace to society, and also has been able to give a good person who made a bad choice a break.
• Mike had a case where he did not feel right – they took a timeout to research and the he, as a district attorney, found that the defendant was innocent and dismissed the case.
• When Mike went on his own, leaving a civil practice after his time as a DA, it was…frightening!
• Mike’s advice:  find a lawpreneur to have lunch with- – and do it before you open your doors.
• You have a strike a balance between being a lawyer and running a business.

What’s on your desk?

• Mike practices criminal defense, and represents victim’s rights as set forth by Marsy’s law.

Favorite Resource

• Advertising/Social Media
• Figure out a plan that works for you and stick with it

Favorite Quote of the Show in a One Minute Clip

Thanks for Listening

This information is coming to you to inspire you and drive you forward. Be bigger than you know yourself to be! If you haven’t already done so, please take a minute to leave a quick 5-star review rating and honest review on iTunes by clicking here.

Miranda McCroskey – host of Lawpreneur Radio