About Michael L.
Michael L. Crowley is a licensed attorney admitted to practice law in the State of California. He was admitted to the California State Bar in 1984. His license is currently in active status. Mr. Crowley is the founder and lead attorney at Crowley Law Group, a full-service criminal defense firm located in El Cajon, California. He has been practicing law for over 40 years, serving clients throughout San Diego County and the surrounding areas.
Mr. Crowley earned his Juris Doctor degree from California Western School of Law, graduating cum laude in 1984. During his time at California Western, he served as the executive editor of the California Western Law Review and authored an award-winning article for the publication. Prior to law school, he completed his undergraduate education at the University of South Florida, receiving Bachelor of Arts degrees in Journalism and Political Science in 1974. Before pursuing a legal career, Mr. Crowley worked as a newspaper reporter, covering various topics including court proceedings.
Mr. Crowley concentrates his practice in the areas of criminal defense and civil rights law. He represents individuals and businesses in matters involving driving under the influence (DUI), white-collar crimes, drug offenses, sex offenses, domestic violence, and illegal immigration. His practice encompasses all stages of litigation, including initial case evaluation, discovery, mediation, settlement negotiations, and trial proceedings in both state and federal courts. Additionally, he handles civil matters such as abusive debt collection, civil rights violations, and administrative issues related to professional licenses.
Throughout his career, Mr. Crowley has handled cases in the Superior Court of California for the County of San Diego, the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He has also appeared before the California Court of Appeal on multiple occasions. Prior to founding his own firm, he worked as an associate at the law offices of San Diego City Attorney Michael Aguirre, prosecuting securities violators in civil courts. In 2005, he was named Criminal Defense Lawyer of the Year by the Criminal Defense Bar Association of San Diego.
Mr. Crowley is an active member of the San Diego County Bar Association and the Criminal Defense Bar Association (CDBA), where he has served as president and currently serves as a director. He is also a commissioner on the State Bar’s Criminal Law Advisory Commission and a member of the San Diego County Bar’s Ethics Committee. He has been recognized as a Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters from 2008 to 2026 and holds the highest AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell for over 25 years. Mr. Crowley is fluent in Spanish, allowing him to serve the diverse communities of San Diego County effectively.
