Joseph M. McMullen

Joseph M. McMullen is the founder of the Law Offices of Joseph M. McMullen and a prominent attorney specializing in federal criminal defense and civil rights. During his career dedicated to defending clients against powerful government entities, he has earned a reputation for courtroom excellence and strategic legal acumen in more than 200 felony cases.

Mr. McMullen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Pomona College, where he also gained recognition for his achievements in athletics. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he was awarded for excellence in appellate advocacy and served on the Moot Court Executive Board—experience that shaped his strength in litigation.

Before founding his firm, Mr. McMullen began his legal career at Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc., followed by a tenure at Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek. He achieved notable courtroom victories, including full acquittals in life-sentence exposure jury trials. His experience spans from wire fraud and insider trading to racketeering and homicide, often against agencies such as the SEC, FBI, IRS, ICE, and DHS.

Mr. McMullen also leads a robust civil litigation practice, securing significant financial recoveries in cases involving government misconduct and civil rights violations. He has successfully argued appeals before the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fourth and Ninth Circuits and represents clients in federal courts across the country. As a bilingual attorney fluent in English and Spanish, he is uniquely equipped to serve a diverse, multilingual client base.

Joseph M. McMullen is an active member of the National Police Accountability Project, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the Federal Criminal Justice Act Trial Panel. Mr. McMullen is admitted in California and several federal jurisdictions, and continues to represent clients nationally in high-stakes investigations and litigation.

With Mr. McMullen, clients gain a formidable advocate committed to protecting their rights with integrity, precision, and relentless preparation.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Law Offices of Joseph M. McMullen
• Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Member, Southern District of California
• Member, Eastern District of Michigan
• Member, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Licensed State

• California

Education

• University of Virginia School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Pomona College
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges