About Michael A.
Michael A. Risley earned his undergraduate degree in anthropology from the University of Oklahoma in 2005. He then returned to the same university for legal studies and completed his Juris Doctor at the University of Oklahoma College of Law in 2010. Those years on campus combined coursework in the social sciences and law, shaping how he views legal problems and the people behind them.
Early in his legal training Risley spent a year as a Curtin Fellow with Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma from 2007 to 2008. That placement put him in direct contact with clients who could not otherwise afford representation. The work offered practical courtroom exposure and client counseling experience that complemented his law school studies.
He was admitted to the Oklahoma bar in 2010 and has maintained membership in the Oklahoma Bar Association since that time. He also joined the Cleveland County Bar Association in 2010 and remains active in that local bar community. Those affiliations mark a steady presence in both statewide and county-level legal circles over the past decade and a half.
Over the course of his career Risley has balanced public interest work from his early fellowship with the responsibilities of private practice and bar involvement. His background in anthropology informs an attention to facts and context when preparing cases and advising clients. Colleagues describe him as methodical in courtroom preparation and clear in client communications. He has handled matters across the state judicial system in Oklahoma and has worked to translate technical legal concepts into plain language for clients.
He continues to practice law in Oklahoma and remains engaged with local bar activities. His current practice is based in Oklahoma, where he represents clients and appears in state courts as needed.
