Free Consultation
$0 first 60 minutes
Cara Marie Dames
About Cara
Biography
Cara Dames is a licensed Arizona and California* attorney. She began her legal career as an attorney at the Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office in Phoenix, Arizona. She has significant experience representing clients facing felony charges in Maricopa County Superior Court proceedings, such as initial appearances, status conferences, oral arguments, motion hearings, and sentencings. She focuses her practice on tenacious negotiations and strong advocacy, with an emphasis on client communications.
Cara graduated cum laude from Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law and completed the law school’s Trial Advocacy Certification. While in law school, she completed multiple externships, internships, and clinics in criminal defense, trial advocacy, and family law. Notably, she worked as a Summer Fellow at Harvard Law School in the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau. During the Fellowship, she directly represented indigent clients in family law cases and successfully won a contested guardianship removal trial that reunited a single mother with her child.
Cara received numerous awards for her academic achievements including CALI Awards in Legal Advocacy and the Public Defender Clinic, William H. Pedrick Scholar Awards, the Maricopa County Bar Foundation Justice Michael D. Ryan Diversity Award, the Sun Devil Giving Day Scholar Award, the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law Alumni Association Scholarship Award, the State Bar Criminal Justice Section Future Practitioner Award, and the Paul Holloway Trial Advocacy Graduation Award. She also served as the Vice Chair of Internal Affairs for the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association and as the Director of Victory Place for the Homeless Legal Assistance Project. Through all of these organizations, she volunteered more than 580 hours of pro bono service and received the Highest Pro Bono Distinction.
Prior to law school, Cara obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology, with a concentration in Crime, Justice, Law, and Society, from the University of San Diego, graduating with Departmental Honors. She also previously worked as a legal secretary and law clerk for multiple years in both California and Arizona. She is a first-generation college student, who was born and raised on the Island of Guam.
*CA Bar Admission Currently Pending
Practice Areas
1
Practice Area
Fees and Rates
Cost
Retainer
Always
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
Looking for an attorney? Avvo can help.
Search our directory
Quickly connect with top attorneys through our legal directory to get help with your legal issue.
Avvo's live chat agents can help coordinate a consultation with a local attorney.
Chat with a live agent who can match you with the right attorney for your legal needs.
Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Arizona for 7 years
State: Arizona
Acquired: 2018
No misconduct found
Location
Castillo Law
2025 N. 3rd Street, Suite 150, Phoenix, AZ, 85004
Gallery
Ad
Transform legal challenges into solutions.
Connect now to review your situation.
Cara Marie Dames's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
73 Client Reviews
Filter Avvo Reviews (73)
Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.
Practice Areas
What Clients Mention
Case Results (40)
Advocacy (37)
Recommendation (27)
Communication Style (12)
Professionalism (12)
Responsiveness (12)
Compassion (8)
General Knowledge (8)
Practice Area Knowledge (8)
Cost of Services (7)
Character & Conduct (5)
Staff & Support (5)
Trustworthiness (3)
Payment Plans (1)
Punctuality (1)
Showing 16 - 20 of 30 reviews | Criminal Defense
Posted by anonymous | May 17, 2022 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense
Attentive and helpful lawyer
I ended up with a false reporting charge due to my friend's traffic violation due to a series of unfortunate events. From the beginning, Ms. Dames was very friendly and approachable and discussed all possible options open to me, while also advising on the best course for me given my circumstance. Sh...
Posted by Kevin M Fernandez | April 13, 2022 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense
Dismissed felony theft
I had an outstanding warrant out for my arrest for a felony theft charge that I was never aware of. I worked with Cara Dames to get this matter resolved without needing to take significant time off of work. She does great work and I highly recommend to anyone in jam.
Posted by Roy | January 27, 2022 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense
Highly recommend this firm.
Ms. Dames was on top of my case from the very start. She had letters from family and friends attesting to my character, had me go through a polygraph and presented this to the police investigators prior to charges being filed. This resulted in no charges being filed against me.
Posted by Maxina | January 25, 2022 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense
Great Work
Cara represented me in a case that she got dismissed without Prejudice … I was confident the whole time that she would do her best to get me the results I needed… And the outcome was better than I expected! I was always informed about what was going on… And Cara did all the work and made it less stre...
Posted by anonymous | October 19, 2021 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense
Excellent Lawyer with quality results
WOW! Cara Dames was hired for my son. We couldn't have picked a better defense attorney! Very professional, supportive, and very experienced! I can't thank you enough for all you have done for my son. You are truly OUTSTANDING!
Cara Marie Dames's Lawyer Endorsements
"Cara is an exceptional lawyer."
"I had the pleasure of working with Cara for four years, and have seen first hand her commitment to her clients and ensuring justice is done in their cases by representing them zealously. Cara is smart, an excellent researcher and writer, and passionate about the work - all which combine to make her an outstanding advocate."
"Ms. Dames is intelligent, diligent and professional. She fights for her clients, is always prepared and Provides excellent representation."
"Cara is passionate about her work and it shows. She is experienced in this practice area and works relentlessly for her clients. I recommend hiring Cara for your criminal defense case."
Stephen Vincent
Child custody lawyer
Shannon Peters
Criminal defense lawyer
Experience
Honors
N/A
CALI Award for highest grade in Legal Advocacy, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University
N/A
CALI Award for highest grade in the Public Defender Clinic, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University
N/A
William H. Pedrick Scholar Awards for academic achievement, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University
N/A
Maricopa Foundation Justice Michael D. Ryan Diversity Award, Maricopa County Bar Association
N/A
Arizona Chapter of the Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Award, Arizona Chapter of the Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
N/A
Scholarship Award, AZ Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts
N/A
Paul Holloway Trial Advocacy Graduation Award, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University
Work Experience
2019 - Present
Attorney, Castillo Law
2018 - 2019
Attorney, Maricopa County Public Defender
Associations
2022 - Present
Horace Rumpole American Inn of Court
2020 - Present
Maricopa County Bar Association
Education
2018
Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
2013
University of San Diego
Bachelor's Degree
Languages
English
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Answers
Q&A
What will happen if my first UA for the felony diversion program is dirty?
02 Jun 2022
Q&A
My husband is being charged with possession his next court date says awaiting commissioner court will he be released that day?
03 Jun 2022
Q&A
What charges would I get if I stole from Walmart $600 worth but they combined it with the stuff my friend stole does that matter
07 Jun 2022