In 1999, he was the driver in a fatal car accident that claimed the life of his passenger, his best friend.  For his crime, he spent 4 years, 1 month, and 6 days in two maximum-security prisons.  While in prison, Dr. Binnall completed his Law School Admission Test and subsequently won admission to several law schools.  He graduated with his Juris Doctorate in May 2007.

On his first attempt, Dr. Binnall took and passed the California Bar Exam.  Still, his journey to becoming an attorney was not complete.  Because he was a convicted felon, Dr. Binnall’s admission to the bar hinged on a favorable Moral Character and Fitness Determination.  It took roughly 18 months, but in the end, Dr. Binnall successfully navigated the process and became a licensed attorney in December 2008 (Bar No. 260974).

Since that time, Dr. Binnall has completed his LL.M. at the Georgetown University Law Center and his Ph.D. at the University of California, Irvine.  He is now an Assistant Professor of Law, Criminology, and Criminal Justice at California, Long Beach.  Prior to his current appointment, Dr. Binnall was an Associate Professor of Law at Savannah Law School and a Law Teaching Fellow at the Georgetown University Law Center. Dr. Binnall has taught courses on Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Criminal Law Ethics, United States Legal Discourse, Scholarly Legal Writing, and Law of Probation & Parole, He has also published a wealth of research on the reentry of persons with criminal records and educational attainment by the formerly incarcerated.

Since his admission to the bar, Dr. Binnall has also assisted other prospective attorneys as they attempt to navigate the Moral Character and Fitness Determination.  In his 10 years of practice, he has represented clients of with a host of criminal convictions, ranging from minor offenses to those who have spent multiple decades behind bars.  Today, nearly all of Dr. Binnall’s former clients are practicing attorneys in California and in a variety of other jurisdictions.

For Dr. Binnall, his practice is his passion.  A tenure-track professor, he is not subject to the financial pressures faced by most practicing attorneys.  He has a day job.  Accordingly, Dr. Binnall takes on a limited number of clients per year, ensuring that he can provide each of them the personal contact and attention necessary throughout this very stressful process.  He also understands his clients’ monetary constraints – as law students embarking on the Moral Character and Fitness Process or as attorneys facing disciplinary action by the State Bar of California.  Accordingly, Dr. Binnall offers free consultations and flexible payment plans for the clients he represents.

If you are worried about your Moral Character and Fitness Application or a pending disciplinary action by the State Bar of California and would like to consult with Dr. Binnall, he can be reached at jmbinnall.esq@gmail.com or by phone at 781-354-5141.  He would be happy to evaluate your case and possibly represent you.  We look forward to hearing from you!