About Michael J.
Michael J. Ocampo studied political and legal ideas before earning his J.D. from Whittier Law School in 2011, after completing undergraduate work at California State University, Fullerton in 2007. Those years set the stage for a career that moves between prosecution and private practice. The academic record is straightforward. The path that followed is practical and courtroom-centered.
His earliest public-facing roles came as a volunteer in 2012. He served as a Volunteer Deputy City Prosecutor in Long Beach and volunteered with the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Domestic Violence Project and the Public Law Center. Those positions gave him day-to-day exposure to criminal matters, victims’ issues and the mechanics of trial preparation. They also placed him in courtroom environments early in his legal life.
In 2013 he joined the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office as a Deputy District Attorney. That role expanded his trial experience and familiarized him with case development from charging through disposition. He handled matters that required negotiation, witness preparation and courtroom appearances. Two years later he moved into private practice as an associate at the Law Offices of Susan F. Lindenberg, APC. The associate position broadened his handling of client intake, case strategy and defense-side litigation.
In 2017 he opened his own office and has served as Principal Lawyer at Michael J. Ocampo, Lawyer at Law since then. Running a solo practice shifted responsibilities beyond casework. He manages client relationships, court filings, and the administrative side of legal work. He is a member of both the Orange County Criminal Defense Bar Association and the Orange County Bar Association, affiliations that reflect ongoing involvement in the local legal community and professional exchange.
Ocampo’s background spans roles on both sides of criminal matters. He has experience prosecuting and defending cases, and has worked on domestic violence matters through volunteer projects. That combination gives him practical insight into how cases move through California courts. He represents clients in criminal matters in California and conducts courtroom work, case evaluation and plea negotiations. He now practices at Michael J. Ocampo, Lawyer at Law and handles criminal defense and related legal matters in California.
