Mary E Tatum

PRO

Mary E Tatum

5.0
Rating: 7.5

Licensed for 37 years

Criminal defense Lawyer at San Luis Obispo, CA
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense, Employment & Labor, Litigation, State, Local And Municipal Law

1119 Palm St, Suite C, San Luis Obispo, CA

Virtual Consultation Available

Free Consultation

About Mary

Biography

Compassionate, Knowledgeable, and Experienced Legal Representation Advocating for Justice in Criminal Defense, Employment Law, and Personal Injury Cases.

Facing criminal charges can be one of the most challenging experiences you’ll ever face. We deliver rigorous and strategic defense backed by decades of experience. Mary Tatum’s experience as a Deputy District Attorney provides her with unmatched insight into the prosecution process.

Mary Tatum has successfully represented individuals in cases against some of the county’s largest employers, tackling wrongful termination, discrimination, and wage disputes. Her unwavering commitment to justice and her ability to navigate "David and Goliath" scenarios make her a formidable advocate

Mary Tatum’s experience includes successfully pursuing claims with merit and defending against unfounded ones, giving her a balanced perspective to handle your case effectively. Our goal is to secure the compensation you deserve, allowing you to focus on healing.

Practice Areas

4

Practice Areas

Criminal Defense 49%

Facing criminal charges? Tatum Law Group offers strategic defense with decades of experience. Her Deputy DA background provides unique insight, crafting robust defenses and negotiating for better outcomes. Your rights, fiercely pr

49%
Employment and Labor 25%

Mary Tatum fiercely represents employees against major employers in wrongful termination, discrimination, and wage disputes. Her dedication to justice shines in "David vs. Goliath" battles, ensuring fair treatment and accountability.

25%
Litigation 25%

Injured? Tatum Law Group, led by Mary Tatum, guides you through the legal process. With experience in meritorious claims and defending unfounded ones, we secure your deserved compensation, letting you focus on healing.

25%
State, Local, and Municipal Law 1%

Mary Tatum’s 33 years as a former Deputy DA give her deep insight into criminal defense. Her proven courtroom skills and ability to negotiate with prosecutors lead to better outcomes. Tatum Law Group fiercely protects your rights and freedom.

1%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Free Consultation

$0 first 30 minutes


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

Awards

Client's Choice
Client's Choice
2026 2025 2024
...
+ 1

Licenses

Licensed in California for 37 years

State: California

Acquired: 1988

Active

No misconduct found

Location

Tatum Law Group, APC

1119 Palm St, Suite C, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93401

tatumlawapc.com/

Mary E Tatum's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

27 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (27) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 1 - 5 of 6 reviews | Practice Area Knowledge

Posted by Brent | January 03, 2026 | Criminal Defense

A true professional

is a true caring, and knowledgeable professional. Her 30 years experience as a prosecutor serve her clients well. She knows the law, how the system works, and how prosecutors think and work The professional contacts she's made over her care can be a blessing and lifesaver for her clients. This prove...d true for me. I appreciated her pro-active, no nonsense attitude that blends nicely with her caring and supportive demeanor. I highly recommend Mary Tatum.

Posted by anonymous | May 27, 2025 | Hired Attorney | DUI & DWI

I can't thank Mary enough

I am forever grateful for the work that Mary Tatum executed on my behalf. As a first time offender I was looking at serious implications for a DUI with a high BAC. I strongly believe that the outcome of my conviction would have been much more damning if Mary was not the person working on my case. She... made all court appearances for me, she negotiated with multiple DA's, she went above and beyond with strategizing, the list goes on and on. Both Mary and her assistant Jeremy always made themselves readily available to assist me through the process, they were a powerhouse team. All emails/phone calls/ texts were answered promptly. Seeing as how this was the first time being charged with anything unlawful I had a lot of questions and concerns. When I approached conversations with anxiety and stress, Mary always had the right answers to assure me and bring peace to the situation. She treated me like a friend, she never made me feel guilty or less than. My family and I are forever grateful for finding Mary Tatum. I strongly suggest using her services, you will not be let down.

Posted by Curt | April 08, 2024 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

Mary is an excellent Attorney!!!

Well I got into a little trouble and my business attorney recommended her firm, when I called she was with a client and when she finished she called me right back. She was on top of everything from the first minute on. Mary is very pleasant and personable to talk with, she made me feel very comfor...table and relaxed. Being an ex DA she knows the law and how things work, she actually walked over to the DA's office and was able to get my case rejected, nothing was ever filled. I would highly recommend Mary.

Posted by Jenny | November 27, 2023 | Hired Attorney | DUI & DWI

Mary Tatum is exactly the type of lawyer everyone dreams of

Mary Tatum is by far the most effective, articulate, well prepared, and understanding, lawyers I have ever encountered. My DUI case was dismissed after 2.5 years due to her highly skilled competence. I could not recommend anyone with higher regard and confidence than I would Mary Tatum.

Posted by Ray | August 11, 2023 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

Highly recommended!! An expert in her field!

I was searching for an attorney, and Ms. Mary Tatum was recommended to me by one of her peers. I made a wonderful choice to retain her. Mary was very informative and accessible throughtout my case. She cares about her clients, and fights hard on their behalf. Her former experience as a DA was pricele...ss in the outcome of my legal matter. Mary's knowledge, confidence and professionalism helped me secure the best possible outcome in court. I highly recommend her!

See All Client Reviews

Mary E Tatum's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Mary
Eva Ulz headshot
Eva Ulz

Employment and labor lawyer | Jul 27

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"Mary Tatum is a fierce advocate and compassionate advisor. She takes the time to thoroughly investigate and learn the facts of each case to ensure that she provides the best possible representation for each of her clients. Her legal experience is matched by her keen perception of people and their problems."

View All Endorsements

No Endorsement Data Available Yet
This attorney hasn't created any attorney endorsements recently on Avvo.

Experience

Rating:  7.5 (Very Good)

Honors

2021

Resolution Recognizing Mary Tatum for her 23 of Service, Monterey County Board of Supervisors

Work Experience

1998 - 2021

Deputy District Attorney, Deputy District Attorney Monterey County

1988 - 1997

Deputy District Attorney, Deputy District Attorney Ventura County

Associations

2024 - Present

The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County

Grantmaking Committee Member

2022 - Present

Women's Lawyer's Association of San Luis Obispo County

Member

2022 - Present

San Luis Obispo County Bar Association, Criminal Defense Section

Member

2022 - Present

San Luis Obispo County Bar Association, Labor and Employment Law Section

Member

Education

1987

Santa Barbara & Ventura Colleges of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

1979

California Lutheran University

BS - Bachelor of Science

Speaking Engagements

Languages

English

Spanish

Avvo Rating

Our Rating is calculated using information the lawyer has included on their profile in addition to the information we collect from state bar associations and other organizations that license legal professionals. Attorneys who claim their profiles and provide Avvo with more information tend to have a higher rating than those who do not.

What determines Avvo Rating?
  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
  • Legal community recognition Peer endorsements, associations, awards
  • Legal thought leadership Publications, speaking engagements
  • Discipline Disciplinary information may not be comprehensive, or updated. We recommend that you always check a lawyer's disciplinary status with their respective state bar association before hiring them.
Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution