About Taylor C.
Taylor C. Hartley studied psychology at Brigham Young University, earning a B.S. in 2002. He went on to law school at California Western School of Law, receiving his J.D. in 2007. His academic background pairs social-science training with legal education, a combination he has referenced when explaining how he prepares for cases and client interviews.
He opened The Advocate Lawyer, LLC in 2008 and began a career centered on criminal defense. That early step put him in private practice quickly after law school. Over the next decade he moved between court-side public work and firm-based defense, gaining exposure to a variety of criminal matters.
In 2016 Hartley served as a public defender in Wasatch County District Court. He also worked that year at Morley & Associates as a criminal defense lawyer. The dual experience — representing indigent clients in the public system and handling private defense files — shaped how he approaches case preparation and courtroom strategy.
He continued in private practice at Pearson Butler in 2018 and joined Liberty Law, PLLC in 2019 as a criminal defense lawyer. His record shows repeated roles in criminal defense across several Utah firms. Each position involved client representation at different stages of the criminal process.
Hartley is admitted to practice in Utah and holds admission to the United States Supreme Court. He is also admitted to the Central District of Utah federal bar. He maintains membership in the Utah Association for Criminal Defense Lawyers, an organization that connects defense attorneys across the state and provides continuing legal education.
Colleagues describe Hartley as a lawyer who foregrounds preparation and direct client communication. He represents clients in state and federal criminal matters and has experience handling matters both at the trial level and in pretrial proceedings. His psychology background informs how he interviews clients and evaluates witness testimony.
He currently practices criminal defense at Liberty Law, PLLC in Utah and handles matters in state and federal courts.
