About John Patrick McNicholas
John Patrick McNicholas III has practiced law in California for more than half a century. He earned his J.D. from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles in 1962. That education set the stage for a long trial career rooted in the courtroom rather than the ivory tower.
Early in his career McNicholas built experience handling jury trials and complex civil matters. Over the years he moved between advocacy and roles that asked him to weigh other lawyers’ qualifications. His courtroom work brought him recognition among peers, and that recognition opened doors to several professional organizations where trial skills and ethics are central.
McNicholas holds fellowships in both the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and the American College of Trial Lawyers. He is a diplomat of the American Board of Trial Advocates and has served as president of its Los Angeles chapter. Memberships on national boards followed, including a seat with the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Those roles reflect a steady presence in organizations that shape trial practice and standards.
He has also taken on responsibilities beyond private practice. McNicholas serves as a temporary judge in the Los Angeles Superior Court. He has chaired the Committee of Bar Examiners and participates in the State Bar Judicial Nominees Evaluation Commission. His involvement with the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference places him in conversations about federal judicial administration and professional standards in the region.
Colleagues describe him as someone comfortable in both advocacy and institutional roles. He has moved between trying cases and evaluating the work of other lawyers and potential judges. That mix has given him a perspective on how courtroom practice and bar governance intersect.
McNicholas practices at McNicholas & McNicholas, LLP. At the firm he continues to accept matters that reflect his trial background and his experience in complex civil litigation. He remains active in bar groups that focus on trial advocacy and legal standards.
He balances trial work with committee duties and occasional service on the bench as a temporary judge. This combination keeps him engaged with current litigation trends and with the institutions that regulate and evaluate the profession.
He currently focuses his practice on civil trial work and related matters in California courts.
