About Rana
Rana Parsanj built her legal foundation in California classrooms. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2010 and completed her Juris Doctor at Pepperdine University School of Law in 2012. Those academic years shaped her approach to law and public service, pairing analytical training in economics with legal study.
Her early career took her into public defense work. Parsanj has served as a Deputy Public Defender in Mendocino County and later in Santa Barbara County. In those roles she worked inside county public defender offices, representing clients in state court proceedings and handling the day-to-day responsibilities that come with public-sector criminal defense.
The work of a public defender is demanding and varied. Parsanj’s time in county offices has involved advising clients, appearing in court for arraignments and hearings, and preparing cases for trial. She has experience managing caseloads that require quick legal research, negotiation with prosecutors, and coordination with investigators and social service providers. Her background reflects the practical tasks public defenders handle: case assessment, plea discussions, and courtroom advocacy.
Beyond courtroom duties, Parsanj has engaged with the local legal community. She has held membership in the Glendale Bar Association since 2017. Participation in a county bar group offers networking and continuing education opportunities. It also keeps practitioners connected to shifts in local practice and policy that affect public defense work.
Paransj’s registration lists California as the jurisdiction in which she practices. Her career path has remained rooted in county public defender offices rather than private firm practice. That trajectory places her daily work at the intersection of criminal law and public service, where attorneys must balance individual client needs with the procedural demands of criminal cases.
She continues to practice in California as a deputy public defender, representing people charged with crimes and providing defense services in the counties where she has served.
