I belong to a family firm that has been in business since 1974. I have been a partner with Faulkner Law Offices since 2001. I have exceptional experience in personal injury litigation and trial practice including: products liability, brain injury cases, medical device class actions and other significant cases. I have changed the law concerning premises liability on the appellate court level.
I was born in 1969 in Bakersfield, California. I received my undergraduate degree at the University of Santa Barbara and Juris Doctorate degree at Golden Gate University of Law in San Francisco. While living in San Francisco before beginning law school, I worked on the cutting edge of computer technology during the heyday of its expansion into all areas of industry. I have extensive experience in information technology, web design, desktop publishing and digital trial presentation. I am a certified trainer for the trial presenation software Trial Director. I have used my technical ability in law since being a lawyer in my own practice. I often advise other lawyers in the implementation and use of office management software and trial presentation technology.
I am very active in the legal community and work with cooperatively with other lawyers to constantly improve my trial advocacy. I am committed to public service in our community. I am on the Board of Directors for our local County Bar Association and I serve the community in many organizations local and statewide. I am involved in the arts community and sit on the Board of Directors of the Arts Council of Kern.
Our firm comprises my father, James L. Faulkner, my mother, Kathleen Ellis Faulkner, and me. I have been steeped in the tradition of law since I worked with my family at 14. By age 18, I was an investigator for our personal injury cases. My father likes to joke that my first day in Law School was when I went with him as a four year old. Being part of a family business is being supportive of your family as you work together.
I remember as far back as when I was six years old watching my dad in trial. One time I was very tired after school when my grandmother took me to see my dad give a closing argument in one of his cases. I dozed off and fell out of my chair, at which point my dad told the jury, "well my son fell asleep, I guess my argument should end here."
What sets our firm apart is that we think of our firm as more than just a business. We think about our clients as members of our family. We deeply care about building personal relationships with our clients that last a lot longer than their case. Our clients are our partners and our friends. We try one case at a time and give it all we have for each of our clients. To some firms, a client is just another case. To us, we know that our client's case means everything to them. Justice is done one person and one case at a time.
5
Practice Areas
25 years
25 years
25 years
25 years
33%-40%
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Chat withState: California
Acquired: 2001
No misconduct found
1825 18th Street, Bakersfield, CA, 93301-4308
Showing 1 - 5 of 10 client reviews from Avvo
Posted by Mark | June 24, 2016 | Consulted Attorney
I sought legal advise from another law office but was basically turned away. When I consulted with Matthew Faulkner I felt like I was treated as a extended family member in need. Matthew went above and beyond to help me with my legal matter. You couldn't ask for better representation. I highly recomm...
Posted by Car Accident Client | February 11, 2016 | Hired Attorney
A friend of mine referred me to Mr. Faulkner as she once needed a lawyer she could trust and only had great things to say about him. I met with Mr. Faulkner and instantly connected with him. He understood that it was a very stressful time for me as I was trying to recover from my car accident. He ...
Posted by DavidO'Neil | March 8, 2015
It's rare to find a professional that has the amazing ability to get results, respond to need and concerns and do so in a kind and compassionate way. Mr. Faulkner has this ability to balance people skills with a vast knowledge and experience of law to not only achieve clients goals, but also do so i...
Posted by Nick | October 23, 2014
Matthew Faulkner represented me in a personal injury law suit. Matthew put in months of hard work preparing for my trial. He is a very diligent hard working attorney who pays attention to details. Matthew was always personable and professional. He went out of his way for me in every way. He took the ...
Posted by Jill | August 26, 2014
I have utilized Matthew James Faulkner twice in the last 11 years. He is very knowledgeable and helpful regarding the matter in which he represented me on. I received a very lucrative settlement, and was pleased regarding the outcome. I've walked in several times without an appointment just to get ...
Criminal defense lawyer | Oct 13
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
"A brilliant attorney, and highly respected in the legal community. Can definitely endorse and recommend without reservation."
"I endorse this lawyer. Mr. Faulkner is an excellent personal injury attorney with a strong reputation in the community."
"Matt is a lawyer who truly cares about his clients. Many attorneys are nice to a client when first signing up, and then fail to return phone calls, or seem "too busy" to spend even 5 minutes on the phone for an update. Not Matt. He returns your call promptly, always making himself accessible by clients. An exceptional blend of competence, courage and candor, he tells you the truth about your case and does not exaggerate. You always know what's happening--issues large and small which you need to know. He has a terrific sense of humor - so needed in our profession. His laugh is contagious. Matt is someone you just want to give a great big hug to, and when you do, all at once there is this feeling of security, of being in the right place, with, not simply the right lawyer, but a true friend. Our profession needs more lawyers like him, lawyers dedicated to helping, to placing the client's interests first. It is with great pleasure that I recommend him."
"Having worked with Matthew at Gerry Spence's Trial Lawyers College, I fully endorse him. Matthew has the courage to challenge the power structure and the experience to get good results for his clients. He really cares about his clients as people."
"Mr. Faulkner is a knowledgeable and courteous lawyer. I have found his advise in my cases to be an incredible help and would, if the situation came, want him to represent me personally. He is a professional and competent attorney."
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2014
Member, Million Dollar Advocates Forum
2014
Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition, United States Congress
2014
Certificate of Recognition, California State Assembly
2014
Commendation for Service to the Community, California State Senate
2008
Certified Trainer, inData Trial Director Software
2001 - Present
Partner, Faulkner Law Offices
2014 - Present
The Arts Council of Kern CountyBoard of Directors
2014 - Present
Bakersfield Burrito Project - Feeding the HomelessBoard of Directors
2013 - Present
Jerry Spence Trial Lawyers CollegeMember
2012 - Present
Kern County Bar AssociationBoard of Directors
2012 - Present
Consumer Attorneys of CaliforniaBoard of Governors
2009 - Present
California Brain Injury AssociationMember
2005 - Present
Million Dollar Advocates ForumMember
2001 - Present
American Bar AssociationMember
2001 - Present
American Association for JusticeMember
Sent back to Trial Court and Settled
2001
JD - Juris Doctor
1994
Art Studio
English
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