About Julia Ann
Julia Ann Brungess graduated from San Joaquin College of Law in 1982. She moved into family law work early in her career and has remained in that field for decades. Her education in Stockton set the stage for a practice centered on dispute resolution inside and outside the courtroom.
Her professional life has included leadership roles in local and statewide organizations. She serves as chair of the Fresno County Bar Association Family Law Section. She is a board member of Collaborative Practice California and holds the presidency of CVCLA. Those positions place her in regular contact with judges, mediators and other family law practitioners across the region.
Brungess’s approach to cases emphasizes settlement processes designed to limit acrimony and reduce court time. She works in collaborative law and mediation, and also handles contested family law matters when parties cannot reach agreement. Colleagues describe her as steady and procedural. Other professionals bring complex custody and property issues to the table because she understands both negotiation and the procedural steps needed if a dispute goes to trial.
Her practice in Fresno reflects a shift in family law over the last thirty years toward alternative dispute resolution. She has been active in the collaborative movement and helped shape local practice standards through her work with CVCLA and Collaborative Practice California. The organizations she leads focus on methods that encourage cooperation while preserving legal protections for clients.
In addition to organizational leadership, Brungess remains engaged in the day-to-day work of client representation. She counsels clients on divorce, child custody, support matters and settlement options. She prepares divorce agreements, drafts parenting plans and represents clients in settlement conferences and trials when necessary. Her courtroom appearances are less frequent than her mediation and collaborative sessions, but she maintains litigation skills.
Outside of court and meetings, she participates in educational programs for lawyers and the public. Those sessions often address practical topics such as drafting enforceable agreements and managing discovery in family law cases. Her peers have relied on her for procedural guidance and for organizing local forums.
She practices at Fresno Collaborative and Family Law. Her current work centers on collaborative divorce, mediation and family law matters.
