About Donald R
Donald R. Hammond studied philosophy as an undergraduate and went on to earn a law degree at a California law school. He received a B.A. from Occidental College in 2005 and a J.D. from the University of Southern California in 2009. His academic background combined liberal arts inquiry with professional legal training.
After law school he established a solo practice. In 2010 he opened the Law Office of Donald R. Hammond and has practiced under that name since. He is admitted to practice in California and is also admitted to appear before the U.S. Supreme Court. His work has centered on criminal matters, and he has handled cases through arraignments, negotiations and trials.
Hammond’s practice shows a sustained involvement in DUI and criminal defense circles. He has been a member of the California DUI Lawyers Association since 2016 and joined the National College for DUI Defense and the American Association of Premier DUI Lawyers in 2017. He also belongs to California Lawyers for Criminal Justice and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, both memberships dating from 2016, and the Los Angeles County Bar Association since 2011. Those affiliations reflect regular engagement with continuing education, case law developments and peer networks in criminal defense.
Outside the courtroom he holds a Federal Aviation Administration commercial pilot certificate. That credential is listed among his certifications and is part of the record of his professional qualifications. It is a detail that appears alongside his legal credentials rather than a part of his litigation practice.
Hammond maintains offices in the South Bay area. His main office is in Torrance and he also operates an office in San Pedro. He began practicing under his own firm name in 2010 and continues to manage and litigate cases from those locations.
Clients and colleagues see him most often on matters involving impaired driving allegations and other criminal charges. He handles pretrial motions, negotiated resolutions and courtroom proceedings, and he continues to represent clients in state and federal matters. He currently practices criminal defense and DUI defense from his Torrance and San Pedro offices.
