Our goal is to help people in the best way possible. this is a basic principle in every case and cause for success. contact us today for a free consultation.
- 1458 Esplanade, Chico, California
- 530-345-5678
By Michael M. Rooney, Supervising Litigation Attorney | Rooney Law Firm, Chico, CA
Most people only hire a criminal defense or family law attorney once. They have no frame of reference, no insider knowledge of the legal system, and no time to waste. This guide exists to fix that.
After more than 30 years in courtrooms across Butte County, Shasta County, and Northern California, I have seen what separates attorneys who win from attorneys who settle for whatever is easiest. The difference is not always where they went to school or how long they have been licensed. It comes down to a specific set of qualifications, a proven track record, and the temperament to fight for you when the pressure is on.
Use this as a checklist whether you are calling Rooney Law Firm or anyone else. Your outcome depends on asking the right questions before you sign anything.
This is the first question to ask and the hardest to fake. Any attorney can claim experience. Documented results are another matter.
Here is what a strong track record looks like in practice. During one year of criminal defense work in Butte County, Michael Rooney had more jury trial wins than any other attorney in the county. In asset forfeiture cases — a highly technical area where the government attempts to seize property — Rooney handled those cases for an entire county for two consecutive years without losing one. One Presiding Judge, watching Rooney conduct jury selection, said on record: “That is the best voir dire I have seen on or off the bench in my thirty years.”
Those are not marketing claims. They are documented outcomes that speak directly to preparation and courtroom performance.
What to ask any attorney you consider hiring:
What is your trial win rate?
Can you show me specific case outcomes similar to mine?
How many cases like mine have you taken to trial in the last three years?
How many cases do you settle versus take to verdict?
An attorney who avoids these questions or gives vague answers is telling you something important.
Before you hire anyone, spend five minutes on the California State Bar website at calbar.ca.gov. Type the attorney’s name into the “Look Up a Lawyer” tool. You will see their license status, how long they have been practicing, where they went to law school, and whether they have ever been disciplined.
Discipline records matter more than most people realize. Bar discipline can range from a private reproval to disbarment. There have been cases in California where individuals practiced law for years before being convicted of doing so without a license.
Malpractice insurance is another signal worth checking. Insurance companies underwrite attorneys they trust to practice ethically and competently. If an attorney cannot obtain or maintain malpractice coverage, that is a serious red flag.
Rooney Law Firm maintains full malpractice coverage and has a clean State Bar record. Every attorney at the firm passed the California Bar examination on the first attempt.
This may seem like an odd question, but it matters. Law is not a field where near-misses are acceptable. Abraham Lincoln, who read law on his own before any formal bar examination existed, and Harvard Law School, through decades of legal training research, have both argued the same point: broad preparation and demonstrated ability under pressure are what separate effective advocates from adequate ones.
The California Bar exam is one of the most difficult in the country. Every attorney at Rooney Law Firm passed it the first time. We require this of anyone who joins the firm because it reflects the kind of preparation and performance under pressure that your case demands.
When you consult with an attorney, you can check the gap between their law school graduation date and their bar admission date on the State Bar website. A gap of more than six months likely means they did not pass on the first attempt.
Courtroom advocacy is not just oral argument. It includes jury selection, cross-examination, negotiation, mediation, and the ability to command a room. These skills are built over years and they either show up in results or they do not.
Michael Rooney has been appointed by the Butte County Superior Court as a certified Mediator. He has served as Federal Legislative Representative for the Association of Rural Northern California Energy Providers. He has presented to community organizations across Northern California including Rotary and Kiwanis. He has completed Advanced Mediation Training through Pepperdine School of Law, one of the top mediation programs in the country.
These are not résumé items for their own sake. They reflect an attorney who has spent decades developing the ability to understand opposing positions, find angles others miss, and advocate persuasively in every setting, not just when a jury is watching.
The attorneys who perform best in high-stakes cases tend to be people who have operated at a high level in multiple domains. Leadership outside the courtroom builds judgment, perspective, and the kind of credibility that juries and judges respond to.
Michael Rooney has served in the following roles:
Chief Public Defender
Chief Probation Officer
Fair Hearing Officer for State Benefit Programs
Chief Executive Officer of a multi-location California corporation
Juvenile Justice Commission member
County Law Library Board member
Trial Council Member, Governing Body for a large Native American tribe
Director, Butte County Humane Society
Board of Directors, Shasta County Arts Council
Salvation Army Advisory Board member
Administrative Director, Community Legal Information Center
Each of these positions required decision-making, accountability, and the ability to represent people whose outcomes depended on getting it right. That background does not end when you walk into a courtroom. It shows up in how a case is built, argued, and won.
A license to practice law is a starting point. What an attorney does with that license over the following years is what separates good representation from exceptional representation.
Michael Rooney’s qualifications include:
Juris Doctor (law degree)
Master of Public Administration
Bachelor of Arts in English, graduated with honors
Northwestern Missouri University Administrative Institute
Drug Recognition Expert training, California Peace Officer certified
Weapons, Arrest (PC§832), Investigations, and Report Writing certifications
Mediation Training and Advanced Mediation Training, Pepperdine School of Law
Licensed California Real Estate Broker
Certified General Appraiser (the highest of four appraisal licenses offered in California)
Professional memberships and associations:
American Trial Lawyers Association
California Attorneys for Criminal Justice
American Bar Association
Amador, Butte, Los Angeles, and Fresno County Bar Associations
California Public Defenders Association
Deputy District Attorneys Association
The real estate broker license and certified appraiser credential are not sidebar qualifications. In property disputes, asset forfeiture cases, and real estate litigation, they provide a level of technical fluency that a general litigator simply does not have.
A good attorney will welcome these questions. One who hedges or deflects is telling you to keep looking.
About experience:
How many cases like mine have you handled in Butte County or Chico specifically?
What percentage of those went to trial versus settlement?
What were the outcomes?
About your case:
What are the realistic outcomes here?
What are the weaknesses in my situation and how would you address them?
What would you do differently from what I have already done?
About the firm:
Who will actually be working on my case day to day?
How do you communicate with clients – calls, emails, updates at what frequency?
What does your fee structure look like and what does it cover?
About the process:
How long do cases like mine typically take to resolve?
What decisions will I need to make and when?
You are not just hiring legal expertise. You are hiring judgment, communication, and the ability to fight for you under pressure. The consultation is your chance to evaluate all three.
Northern California courts are not interchangeable. The judges, the prosecutors, the procedural norms, and the community standards in Butte County are specific to this region. An attorney who practices primarily in Sacramento or the Bay Area and takes occasional Chico cases is at a structural disadvantage compared to one who has spent thirty years in these courts.
Rooney Law Firm is based in Chico. We practice regularly in Butte County Superior Court and have worked across Shasta, Glenn, Tehama, Plumas, and surrounding counties. We maintain office availability in Redding and Nevada City for clients in those areas.
That local depth means we know how cases move through these specific courts, which arguments land with which judges, and where cases can be won before they ever get to trial.
The firm has been recognized twelve times by the Chico News and Review as the top law firm in the area, and has received the California State Senate Award for Excellence – recognition that comes from a long record of results in this community, not from advertising volume.
How do I check if an attorney is licensed to practice in California?
Go to calbar.ca.gov and search the attorney’s name. You will see their license status, bar admission date, law school, and any discipline history. This takes about two minutes and should be the first thing you do before any consultation.
What is the difference between a trial attorney and a general practice attorney?
A trial attorney spends a significant portion of their practice in courtrooms, arguing before judges and juries. A general practice attorney may handle a wider range of matters but take fewer cases to trial. For criminal defense or contested family law matters, you want someone with documented trial experience, not just settlement history.
Does it matter if my attorney passed the California Bar on the first attempt?
Yes. California’s bar exam is one of the most difficult in the country. First-time passage reflects preparation, competence under pressure, and the kind of rigorous legal reasoning your case requires. You can verify this by comparing an attorney’s law school graduation date to their bar admission date on the State Bar website.
What should I look for in a Chico or Butte County attorney specifically?
Local court experience is the first filter. An attorney who regularly appears in Butte County Superior Court knows the judges, understands local procedures, and has established credibility with the court. Beyond that, look at trial record, bar discipline history, and whether the attorney who consults with you is the one who will actually handle your case.
How many years of experience should a criminal defense attorney in Northern California have?
There is no minimum number, but the learning curve in criminal defense is steep. An attorney with fewer than five years of trial experience is still developing the instincts that come from watching cases go differently than expected. Ten or more years of active trial practice in your jurisdiction is a strong signal.
What is the California State Senate Award for Excellence for attorneys?
It is a formal recognition granted by a California State Senator to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional service and achievement in their field. It is not a self-nominated or purchased award. Rooney Law Firm has received this distinction.
Should I hire the first attorney I consult with?
Not necessarily. Interview two or three. Pay attention to who asks the most questions about your specific situation, who gives you honest answers rather than reassuring ones, and who explains your options clearly. The best attorneys do not oversell outcomes. They outline realistic paths and let the record speak.
Is Rooney Law Firm right for every case?
We handle criminal defense, personal injury, real estate, and family law matters in Chico, Butte County, and across Northern California. If your matter falls outside those areas, we will tell you and can refer you to qualified counsel in the relevant practice area. We do not take cases we cannot serve well.
For immediate legal help or to schedule a free initial consultation, call Rooney Law Firm at (530) LAW-HELP (530-345-4357)
Office appointments available in Chico, Redding, and Nevada City.
Rooney Law Firm. Chico, California. Serving Butte County and Northern California for over 30 years.
Our goal is to help people in the best way possible. this is a basic principle in every case and cause for success. contact us today for a free consultation.