About Stephen I
Stephen I Leshner studied at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, earning a B.A. in 1969. He went on to receive his J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law in 1973. Those years established the academic foundation for a career concentrated on trial work and civil litigation. He later gained admissions that allow him to argue cases at several levels, including the Ninth Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court.
His early years in practice are not listed here, but his professional affiliations sketch a long record of involvement in the trial bar. He has been a sustaining member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America—now the American Association for Justice—since 1981. He joined the Arizona Trial Lawyers Association and served on its board beginning in 1990. Colleagues elected him president of that organization for the 1999–2000 term. In 1999 he also became an associate member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, a role he continues to hold.
Leshner holds a certification from the State Bar of Arizona Board of Legal Specialization in Injury and Wrongful Death Litigation. That credential recognizes practitioners who meet specific experience and testing standards in those areas. His admissions to Arizona courts, the Ninth Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court further reflect a practice that extends beyond state-level matters and into federal appellate work.
The narrative of his career is one of steady participation in professional organizations and courtroom practice. He has spent decades operating within Arizona’s trial community and maintains ties to national trial groups. Serving on the board of a statewide association and then leading it as president placed him in the middle of debates about procedure, trial practice, and advocacy standards that affect plaintiff-side lawyers across Arizona.
He practices in Phoenix, Arizona, where he handles personal injury and medical malpractice litigation. His work centers on preparing cases for trial, representing clients in courtroom proceedings, and participating in the professional groups that shape trial practice in the state.
