Law Firm Overview

Experienced Attorney Working on Your Behalf throughout California

I offer my clients unique legal representation because of my work experience before becoming an attorney.

I was a professor at the University of California for many years. The understanding I gained during that time of how institutions operate to deny individuals their legal rights informs how I practice law.

I represent individuals, never public or private institutions.

Please call me at (805) 845-8223 to schedule a free initial consultation. I will gather the relevant facts from you, and give you a frank assessment of the prospects of a successful outcome if you decide to hire a lawyer. I will not represent you unless I believe there is a good chance I can help you.

The sooner you seek legal representation, the more likely you are to receive the remedy you desire.

FLAT FEE BILLING - NO HOURLY RATES

I don't bill by the hour. I charge a one-time flat fee for legal services. This includes travel costs. If you want me to represent you, and I have to appear on your behalf where you live or work, my travel costs come out of my fee. Once the fee is agreed upon and paid, you will not have to pay me any additional money as I pursue all available options to meet your legal needs.

Education Law

I represent individual students, professors and staff members of public or private universities and colleges and of public or private elementary and secondary schools in administrative and disciplinary hearings.

I also advise students from other states on qualifying as California residents for tuition fees at California universities and colleges.

I will prepare you for a hearing or meeting with school administrators, and will accompany you to and advise you at the meeting or hearing.

Representative clients include:

• Students accused of plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty, or facing disciplinary charges for alleged violations of the student conduct code
• Students facing academic probation or academic dismissal
• Professors facing disciplinary charges for alleged violations of the faculty code of conduct
• Professors involved in privilege and tenure disputes
• Professors and staff members wanting to negotiate a separation agreement or settlement agreement
• Professors and staff members seeking advice on which retirement options to choose [including those at the University of California (UC) or CSU-ERFA members who will receive retirement and health care benefits from the University of California Retirement System (UCRS) or the California Public Employees Retirement System (CALPERS)]
• Students, staff or professors accused of sexual harassment
• Students wanting to appeal a classification of nonresident for tuition purposes to the Principal Legal Analyst-Residence Matters at the University of California or to The California State University Office of General Counsel
• Whistleblowers threatened with retaliation
• Children facing suspension, involuntary transfer, or expulsion from elementary or secondary school
• Children with special educational needs that aren't being met in school who would benefit from having an Individual Education Plan or an Individual Education Program (IEP) 

I will represent you if

• you are a student or on the faculty or staff at any University of California campus (UC Berkeley, UCLA, UCSB, UC Irvine, UC Riverside, UCSF, UC Santa Cruz, UC Davis, UCSD and UC Merced)

• you are a student or on the faculty or staff at any California State University campus (California State University Bakersfield, California State University Channel Islands, California State University Chico, California State University Dominguez Hills, California State University East Bay, California State University Fresno, California State University Fullerton, Humboldt State University, California State University Long Beach, California State University Los Angeles, California Maritime Academy, California State University Monterey Bay, California State University Northridge, California State Polytechnic University Pomona, California State University Sacramento, California State University San Bernardino, San Diego State University, San Francisco State University, San Jose State University, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California State University San Marcos, Sonoma State University, California State University Stanislaus)

• you are a student or on the faculty or staff at any community college in Los Angeles County (East Los Angeles College, Los Angeles City College, Los Angeles Harbor College, Los Angeles Mission College, Los Angeles Southwest College, Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, Los Angeles Valley College, Pierce College, West Los Angeles College) Santa Barbara County (Allan Hancock College, Santa Barbara City College), Ventura County (Moorpark College, Oxnard College and Ventura College) or San Luis Obispo County (Cuesta College)

• you are a student or on the faculty or staff at any private college or university in California, including but not limited to Abraham Lincoln University, Alliant International University, American Jewish University, Antioch University, Antioch University Santa Barbara , Bay Cities Bible Institute, California American University, California Baptist University, California Graduate Institute, California Institute of Technology, California International University, California Lutheran University, California Pacific University, California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP), Central State University, Chapman University, Christian Heritage College, City University Los Angeles, Claremont Colleges, Deep Springs College, Design Institute of San Diego, Fielding Graduate Institute, Frederick Taylor University, Glendale University College of Law, Golden State Baptist College, Holy Names University, Hsi Lai University, Humphreys College & School of Law, La Sierra University, Loma Linda University, Loyola Marymount University, Lutheran Bible Institute California, Mills College, Monterey Institute of International Studies, Mount St. Mary's College, Mt. Sierra College, Newschool of Architecture, Occidental College, Otis College of Art and Design, Pacific Coast University School of Law, Pacific Oaks College and Children's School, Pacific States University, Patten College, Pepperdine University, Professional School of Psychology, Pushington University, Ryokan College, Samuel Merritt College, San Joaquin College of Law, Santa Clara University, Soka University, South Baylo University, Southern California Institute of Architecture, Southwestern University School of Law, St. John's Seminary College , Stanford University, Summit Bible College, Thomas Aquinas College, University of Creation Sprituality, University of LaVerne, University of Redlands, University of San Diego, University of San Francisco, University of Santa Monica, University of Southern California (USC), Vanguard University of Southern California, Webster University, West Haven University, Western State University College of Law, Westmont College, Whittier College, William Howard Taft University, Woodbury University, or Yuin University 

• your child is a student at any public or private elementary or secondary school in Los Angeles County, Santa Barbara County, Ventura County or San Luis Obispo County.

Appealing Disapproval of Government Benefits

I work with clients who have been wrongfully denied:

• Social Security benefits
• Social Security Disability benefits
• Veterans benefits
• Veterans Disability benefits
• Unemployment benefits
• Medicare
• Medicaid

I will assist you in filing an appeal and will represent you in front of the administrative law judge who will decide your appeal.

I will represent you if you live in Los Angeles County, Santa Barbara County, Ventura County or San Luis Obispo County and were denied Social Security or Social Security Disability benefits, Veterans or Veterans Disability benefits, Unemployment Insurance benefits, or Medicaid or Medicare benefits.

General Civil Practice

There are a variety of other legal matters in which I offer my services. These include, but are not limited, to:

• Civil harassment cases, where, for example, a neighbor is harassing you but the police can't stop it. I will help you obtain an order from a judge that will stop it. 
• CC&Rs enforcement in condominiums and housing developments.
• Sale of structured settlements, annuities and insurance policies to companies such as J. G. Wentworth, Novation Capital, Stone Street Capital, and Woodbridge Structured Funding.  You will pay nothing to me if I represent you in such sales. By California law, the buyer must pay my fee, and cannot take it out of your proceeds from the sale.
• Representation at mandatory fee arbitration hearings. The legal basis for recovering fees from a lawyer who represented you is well defined. Most clients lose fee arbitration hearings because they don't know the law. I will examine your situation, and advise you on your chances of success. If you retain me, I will submit a legal brief to the arbitrator, then prepare you and represent you at the arbitration hearing.
• Mortgage modifications and foreclosure avoidance*
• Student loan issues, including erroneous interest charges
• Contract disputes
• Civil annulment
• Negotiation of severance packages
• Inmate civil rights lawsuits (aka Bivens actions) filed under 42 U.S.C.A. 1983, that allege a violation of an inmate's civil rights, typically by the officials or entities having custody of him
• Federal cases involving violation of state laws on federal property. I can represent you if, for example, you were caught speeding on Vandenberg Air Force Base or on the Point Mugu Naval Air Station

I will represent you if you live in any county in California, including Alameda County, Alpine County, Amador County, Butte County, Calaveras County, Colusa County, Contra Costa County, Del Norte County, El Dorado County, Fresno County, Glenn County, Humboldt County, Imperial County, Inyo County, Kern County, Kings County, Lake County, Lassen County, Los Angeles County, Madera County, Marin County, Mariposa County, Mendocino County, Merced County, Modoc County, Mono County, Monterey County, Napa County, Nevada County, Orange County, Placer County, Plumas County, Riverside County, Sacramento County, San Benito County, San Bernadino County, San Diego County, San Francisco County, San Joaquin County, San Luis Obispo County, San Mateo County, Santa Barbara County, Santa Clara County, Santa Cruz County, Shasta County, Sierra County, Siskiyou County, Solano County, Sonoma County, Stanislaus County, Sutter County, Tehama County, Trinity County, Tulare County, Tuolumne County, Ventura County, Yolo County, or Yuba County, and want to enforce CC&Rs; sell your structured settlements, annuities or insurance policies; seek return of part or all of the fee you paid an attorney; stop a neighbor from bothering or harassing you; resolve a contract dispute; avoid foreclosure or have the terms of your mortgage modified; resolve problems with your student loans; receive a severance package or a settlement offer for leaving your job; or are facing Federal charges for violations of the California Vehicle Code.

I offer day, evening and weekend consultations by phone. To schedule a free initial consultation, call me at (805) 845-8223 or, if you prefer to email, click on this link Contact me .

Michael J. DeNiro Ph.D. J.D.
Attorney at Law

* pursuant to Senate Bill 94, signed into law by Gov. Schwarzenegger on Oct. 11, 2009, fixed fees for any legal work I do for you to avoid foreclosure will not be due until after I have performed the legal services.

Areas of Practice

• Education Law
• Government Programs & Benefits
• Civil Law

West Practice Categories

Administrative Law, Banking & Finance Law, Foreclosure & Alternatives, Loan Workouts, Business & Commercial Law, Contracts, Education Law, Colleges & Universities, Private Schools, Public Schools, Special Education, Student Rights, Tenure, Employment Law -- Employee, Employee Rights -- Employee, Employment Contracts -- Employee, Pensions, Benefits & Compensations -- Employee, Sexual Harassment -- Employee, Whistleblower -- Employee, Government Agencies & Programs, Medicare & Medicaid, Social Security -- Disability, Social Security -- Retirement & Survivors Benefits, State & Local Agencies, Veterans' Affairs, Litigation & Appeals, Military & Veterans Appeals