About Sam
Sam Bernstein earned his law degree from Michigan State University College of Law in 2011 after completing an undergraduate degree at Eastern Michigan University in 2008. Those years in school laid the groundwork for a practice centered on criminal defense and family law. Bernstein also holds a DUI Field Sobriety Test Certification from MIAOWIA, a credential that informs work on impaired-driving cases.
Bernstein's introducation to client work began while still in law school. In 2009 he interned at the Washtenaw County Public Defender's Office, where he observed courtroom procedure and client interviewing under the supervision of staff attorneys. That early exposure to public defense shaped his practical approach to case preparation and courtroom advocacy.
After graduating in 2011 Bernstein began practicing law at ArborYpsi Law handling criminal-defense and family-law matters. He built experience representing clients in state court on a range of charges and in hearings related to custody and support. His membership record shows ongoing involvement in local and statewide professional groups since that year, including the Michigan Association of OWI Lawyers and the Washtenaw County Bar Association.
In 2022 Bernstein joined Grabel & Associates as a lawyer. The move broadened his caseload and brought additional resources for trial preparation. He is admitted to practice in Michigan and admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, allowing him to handle both state and certain federal matters. He also maintains membership in the Criminal Defense Lawyers of Michigan.
Bernstein's practice draws on courtroom experience, procedural knowledge and technical training in DUI evaluation. He has handled arraignments, motions practice, pretrial negotiations and trials. His work in family-law matters has included custody disputes, parenting-time issues and support proceedings. Bernstein's certification in field sobriety testing informs the technical questions that often arise in impaired-driving cases.
In day-to-day work Bernstein combines an attention to evidence with a straightforward, practical approach to case strategy. He prepares clients for hearings and trials, and he engages opposing counsel on plea discussions and negotiated resolutions when appropriate. His experience spans public-defense settings, solo or small-firm practice and work inside a larger firm environment.
Bernstein currently practices through Grabel & Associates and is active in local and state bar groups that address criminal-defense and OWI practice. His current work centers on criminal defense, DUI-related matters and family-law cases.
