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Patrick Ewing Clancy

also known as Innocence Legal Team
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Avvo Rating9.9
  • Pleasant Hill, CA
  • Licensed for 46 years
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About Patrick

 Mr. Clancy has devoted his practice to representing those falsely accused of child molestation, rape, internet stings, munchausen syndrome by proxy, and other sex offenses. He has more child molestation jury trial than any other California attorney and more not guilty verdicts.  There are over 16 hours of video and all subjects concerning false allegations of sex crimes.  See them at http://www.innocencelegalteam.com

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Practice areas

Child abuseAppealsSex crime
  1. Sex crime: 85%

    Patrick Clancy is in his 4th decade of doing solely sex crimes and physical abuse cases. He is the founder of the Innocence Legal Team believed to be the only firm in CA dedicated exclusively to this field. He has written a book on child sexual abuse cases entitled "Has a Child Been Molested?" He is a frequent lecturer on trial tactics in child molestation cases. Mr. Clancy has handled numerous cases of FMS or False Memory Syndrome cases and produced a documentary film about the issue.

    46 years

  2. Appeals: 10%

    The Innocence Legal Team handles appeals of sex cases and the removal of the sex registration requirement in many cases.

    46 years

  3. Child abuse: 5%

    The Innocence Legal Team handles child physical abuse cases including broken bone cases and Munchhausen Syndrome by Proxy.

    46 years

Languages spoken

English

Photos and videos

335027 1430324395

Contact

Innocence Legal Team

3478 Buskirk Avenue, Ste 150
Pleasant Hill, CA, 94523

    Resume

    License
    StateStatusAcquiredUpdated
    CAActive197402/03/2021
    We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.
    Avvo Contributions
    Legal answers12
    Legal guides0
    Awards
    Award nameGrantorDate granted
    NotableMartindale-Hubbell2018
    Peer Review RatedMartindale-Hubbell2018
    Client RatingMartindale-Hubbell2018
    Peer Review RatedMartindale-Hubbell2017
    Vice President Criminal DivisionContra Costa County Bar Association2001
    Certified Criminal Law SpecialistState Bar of California1991
    Work Experience
    TitleCompany nameDuration
    Founder and Chief StratigistInnnocence Legal Team2011 - Present
    General PartnerClancy Litigation Group1977 - Present
    Associations
    Association namePosition nameDuration
    Contra Costa County Bar Association, Criminal SectionVice President2001 - 2001
    Publications
    Publication nameTitleDate
    Berkeley Creek ProductionsHas A Child Been Molested?1999
    Sacramento County Bar AssociationFalse Allegations of Child Molestation1999
    American Bar AssociationFalse Allegations of Child Abuse. Why is it happening? What can we do?1990
    Education
    School nameDegreeGraduated
    Loyola Law SchoolJuris Doctorate1974
    South Dakota Sch Mines & TechBachelor of Science1970
    Speaking Engagements
    Conference nameTitleDate
    Criminal Defense Practice - Sex Crimes,, BerkeleyTrial Tactics2014
    Defending Sex Crimes Seminar, Palm SpringsTrial Tactics2010
    Defending Sex Crimes Seminar, Palm SpringsTrial Tactics2008
    Defending Sex Crimes, Palm SpringsCountering Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome2007
    Defending Sex Crimes Seminar, Palm SpringsTrial Tactics2006
    Criminal Defense Practice Update, KonoctiTrial Tactics2006
    Defending Sex Crimes Seminar, Palm SpringsTrial Tactics2005
    Criminal Defense Practice Seminar, SacramentoTrial Tactics2004
    Defending Sex Crimes Seminary. Palm SpringsTrial Tactics2003
    Sex and Drug Case Defense, Palm SpringsTrial Tactics2002
    Sex/Drug cases Seminar, Palm SpringsTrial Tactics2001
    Drugs/Sex Case Defense Palm SpringsTrial Tactics1998
    Legal cases
    Case nameOutcome
    Project Manager Charged with Child Molestation Contra Costa CountyAll counts not guilty by jury verdict
    Police Officer Charged With Child MolestationNot guilty, Hung Counts Dismissed
    Concert Pianist Charged With Child Molestation Alameda CountyNot guilty, Hung Counts Dismissed
    Teacher Charged with Child Molestation Stanislaus CountyNot guilty, Hung Counts Dismissed
    Medical Doctor Accused of Sexual Battery of PatientAll counts not guilty.
    Student Accused of Internet Sting Ventura CountyNot Guity, Hung Count Settled for Non Sex Misdemeanor
    Airline Mechanic Supervisor Charged with Child MolestationNot Guilty

    Reviews

    (20)
    5 Star
    		90%
    4 Star
    		0%
    3 Star
    		0%
    2 Star
    		5%
    1 Star
    		5%
    Review Patrick Clancy

    Smartest Thing I Ever Did!

    Posted by

    All charges dismissed on day of trial. I was falsely accused of molesting my own daughter, all orchestrated by her stepmother as revealed by a journal on her computer. There were hundreds of texts and emails. Unlike attorneys who just want to settle a case to maximize their own profit, Patrick Clancy told me that’s not how he does things. Patrick spent over a year with me organizing and correlating all of the evidence. Only then did he lay out everything for the DA who, two weeks later, dismissed all charges (three counts of 288a). Thank you, Patrick Clancy! Another life saved!
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    9 months and 17 days in jail, but who's counting?

    Posted by

    Patrick Clancy saved my life. Two girls falsely accused me of inappropriately touching them while I put them to bed when they were little. I was put in jail! I was pressured to just settle -- admit to sex crimes, and not face the expense and misery of sitting in jail for months, followed by a jury trial, and facing life in prison. The court and justice system treated me like a condemned child molester, but I was innocent. My family found Patrick Clancy on the internet. Mr. Clancy does not settle cases; he takes a case to trial. Clancy studied my case carefully, examined my court documents and analyzed the children’s testimony. He hired a great investigator, who found out a lot about the girls, their mother and all their troubled personalities. He hired a respected child psychologist and a specialist appellate lawyer to have important witness testimony ruled admissible. Most of all, he figured out why the girls turned on me and falsely accused me. When the DA saw it all, the case was dismissed without even going to trial. Thank you, Mr. Clancy. Your expertise and strategy saved me from a potential 25 years to life and gave me my life back.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    Revisión del Jefe Estratega (en idioma español)

    Posted by

    Un mexicano indocumentado con una condena previa por abuso de menores. ¡Mi vida había terminado! Recientemente, una sobrina joven me acusó falsamente de haberla molestado. Me mantuvieron en la cárcel sin fianza. El Sr. Clancy trajo intérpretes con él cuando me visitó en la cárcel. Mi familia extendida recaudó los fondos para contratar al Equipo Legal de Inocencia porque querían que yo tuviera lo mejor. Anteriormente, como joven me acusaron de tocar a mi hermana, pero no lo hice y no entendí lo que sucedió en el tribunal de menores. Ahora, me enfrentaba a una vida en prisión y, si alguna vez salía, me enfrentaba una deportación dejando a mí familia en los Estados Unidos. Patrick Clancy fue el "Jefe Estratega" en mi caso. Él me creyó cuando le dije que yo era inocente. Mi esposa tenía una pista de lo que podría haber sido la causa de la falsa acusación y, como jefe estratega, el Sr. Clancy desarrolló esta lista en el caso. El plan del caso era que un amigo de mi sobrina estaba en un hogar de acogida. Esta amiga quería que mi sobrina se uniera a ella en el hogar de acogida. Ellas planificaron una acusación formal de abuso sexual en mi contra para que ellas pudieran vivir juntas en el hogar de acogida. Descubrí que había aceptado un acuerdo por abusar sexualmente de mi hermana cuando era menor de edad. No entendía lo que estaba sucediendo en el tribunal de menores. Ahora, mi hermana dio una declaración por escrito en el caso actual apoyándome e indicando que nunca la molesté y que ella confiaba totalmente en mí con respecto a los niños. La estrategia fue desarrollada por el Sr. Clancy y reunió toda la evidencia necesaria. La acusadora admitió que ella había inventado la historia como parte de un plan para vivir con su amiga. La evidencia que el Sr. Clancy había reunido fue entregada al Fiscal del Distrito antes de la audiencia preliminar. Después de la audiencia preliminar, la fiscalía quedó satisfecha y desestimó todos los cargos. La estrategia del caso del Sr. Clancy condujo a un despido de del caso. Mi vida fue salvada.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    His Focus meant my freedom

    Posted by

    When my teenage daughters wanted boyfriends more than a Dad, and my ex-wife wanted custody at any cost, the false accusations flew wild. From multiple felony counts and the possibility for 100's of years in prison, to the truth and my freedom. What a ride through hell. Thank God Mr. Clancy and his team found the truth and brought it out in force. 12-1/2 inches of discover that the police failed to find, let alone follow up with, a secret IPad from my daughters and an over zealous DA all meant my life went from typical suburbia to a living hell. When the D.A. reviewed the package from Mr. Clancy and his team, the settlement offers flooded in. If you find yourself charged with anything even close to this, it is time to make the call, your life might be at stake. This man is THE most focused attorney I have ever worked with, bar none. Thank you Mr. Clancy for being there and wading into hell beside me.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    The Nightmare is Finally Over!

    Posted by

    My case was as highly prejudice as you can get. My family are practicing naturist (nudist). I moved from California to Texas. I was then arrested, and all of my electronics were search. Naturist family photos were found on my iPad. However, one disgusting lewd photograph of my 12 year old daughter was also found on my iPad. I had never seen it before. I was charged with two felonies counts Federal Court based upon this one photograph. In Texas I went through three attorneys that I do not feel represented me adequately. While in California I had lost trust in what my daughter was doing on the internet. I installed spyware on the smartphone. The spyware sent email reports to my smartphone. I found out she was pretending to be an 18 year old student from Stanford and trying to set up “hook ups” with adult males. She was sending inappropriate photos of herself to adult males via “Tender’. I destroyed her smartphone in front of her eyes. She was totally mad. My Smartphone was in the custody of California Law Enforcement. After multiple requests none of my attorneys worked to get control of my smartphone that was back in California. I was in custody for 14 month and was about to go to trial without my corroborating evidence (the spyware email reports) I then made the biggest mistake of my life. I was offered credit for time served and release; or I had to go to trial without my best evidence and I face 30 years in prison. I took the deal expecting to be immediately released. That was false. I was released from Federal Prison and was immediately transported to the California jail to stand trial for child molestation carrying a potential life sentence in a California Prison. In California I went through five attorneys and I did not feel they could handle the case. I was a nudist that had plead to taking a pornographic picture of my daughter. It took two and a half years with no progress. My wife found Patrick Clancy who specialized in these cases for four decades. Mr. Clancy immediately got my cell phone and had it analyzed. He was the first in eight attorneys that did his job. Mr. Clancy attacked the plea bargain to the California Jury as coerced. We had another hurdle put in our way. The Judge would not let in the motivation of why my daughter was furious with me. The Judge sanitized the evidence under the Rape Shield Laws. We were only allowed to state that I had found that she and done something on the internet that was “inappropriate”. However, Mr. Clancy did not give up. He showed the spyware to the jury. He called a lot of my naturist friends that also had children so that the jury could see that naturism was not sexual. He called people that knew my daughter had problems with the truth. He also introduced that I had found evidence using Spyware that my daughter had done “inappropriate conduct” that lead to her smartphone being destroyed with an ax. He introduced prior inconsistent statements from my daughter about who took the lewd photography and showed how it was physically possible that it was a selfie for her friends. Without the evidence that the judge had sanitized out we were only able to hang the jury. Mr. Clancy immediately started to prepare for a second trial. We were hoping to get a different judge and a different ruling on the admissibility of what I had discovered on my daughter’s smartphone. On the day of the start of the second trial the case was dismissed. I need to tell you about the personal side of “Patrick”. He took the time to keep my wife and I both informed on the progress of the case. We always felt we were part of the case and he listened to our ideas. He was very patient in explaining what was happening and why. He sacrificed many Sundays and nights to help us. He never gave up and that gave us hope. We highly recommend him.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    Bail was $1,850,000 and case dropped 5 days after hiring Mr. Clancy

    Posted by

    I was arrested and had a bail of $1,850,000. My girlfriend found, hired, and paid Patrick Clancy a $25,000 retainer to represent me because her research said he was the best. He came to the jail and met with me three times. He worked with my friends on the outside. I was arrested Friday night. I was release without any charges being filed on Wednesday. I overheard the police talking at the jail. They said the District Attorney was not going to file the case because the attorney, I hired, Patrick Clancy, was no one to mess with. I give credit to Mr. Clancy's reputation leading to no charges filed. Without being asked, Mr. Clancy refunded 90% of the retainer and kept a small amount to cover the time he had put into the case. Not only was he the best, he was so fair when he refunded most of the money without even being asked.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    Freed!

    Posted by

    At first my union assigned me a lawyer who informed me that at least 90% percent of these cases end up in a plea bargain and that I would most likely be going to jail for a very long time. Patrick Clancy on the other hand assured me that he brings his cases to trial. From the moment I met Pat, I felt not only was I in expert hands, but also in the hands of a kind and caring person. The terror that was always lurking (with these kinds of false allegations) was offset by his jovial nature and a ‘legal power’ that he carries with over 40 years of experience in this very unique work. In the end my case was dropped due to evidence dug up by the excellent investigator who works with Pat, and Pat’s courtroom strategy. It turned out that the first accuser had significant problems which skewed his/her memory and the second accuser was only a copycat caught in his/her own lies. Pat, with the support of his investigator, was able to uncover and bring to light these issues and put together an argument which convinced the DA to drop the case.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    All Sexual Allegations Dismissed Without Trial

    Posted by

    In 2015-2016 I had multiple allegations of molestation dismissed against me without trial. I was accused by a couple of family members. My first attorney worked very hard on my case and was a very fine man but he suggested I needed an expert in the field of child molestation allegation to take over the case. He introduced me to Patrick Clancy. I was told he was the best in his field of child molestation allegations. My bail was over a million dollars and I was not able to make bail and had been in jail for approximately 8 months when Mr. Clancy took over my case. Mr. Clancy quickly prepared the case during the preliminary hearing he was able to disprove the major count against me which carried life in prison. Based upon the dismissal of that count Mr. Clancy got my bail reduced and I was able to make bail based on that reduced amount. It was the last day I spent in custody on my case. I was free and it felt so good. Mr. Clancy prepared the case for trial but before the case went to trial the accusers refused to proceed and all of the sex allegations were dismissed. Mr. Clancy and I had several interesting conversations, some included politics. We were from two totally different backgrounds. He always made himself available to me. Mr. Clancy gave e me emotional support that I really needed during a very difficult time in my life. Mr. Clancy really showed that he cared. Mr. Clancy was a life saver.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    CASE DISMISSED WITHOUT TRIAL

    Posted by

    In 2016 I was falsely accused of the molestation of my daughter. I had been the victim of “Parental Alienation” for a period of ten years arising out of a bitter child custody battle. I was facing life in prison if convicted. I did my research to locate the best attorney in California on the issues of Parental Alienation. My research lead me to hired Mr. Patrick Clancy. I was in jail with a bail of over 6.7 million dollars. I would have been able to bail out with the help of family but Mr. Clancy asked me to hold on for a few days in jail and he would work to get the bail reduced. He got it reduced to $1 million dollars and I bailed out. This saved me over $360,000 in bail bond fees. Mr. Clancy then studied my case which was voluminous. There were over three boxes of paperwork. He then carefully selected items to show to the DA in an attempt to educate the DA on the case and get the charges dropped without the need of a trial. He was successful in getting the charges dismissed before the preliminary hearing. I was totally relieved and grateful to him for his work. During the time I was in jail, he showed me and my wife great kindness, comfort, and support. We were very lucky to have found him.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
    Hired attorney

    I Was scared and worried for my life, until the day I Met Patrick Clancy.

    Posted by

    I was accused of a lewd and lascivious act on a minor. The thought alone was heartbreaking mixed with terror and fright. After doing research online, i then knew i was facing Prison and Sex Registration. Thanks to Patrick Clancy, I never went to prison or had to register for sex Offender. He is a master at his craft and when i say master at his craft. Sex Crimes are his primary cases and it shows. Patrick Clancy was not the First defense attorneys i had called. I was calling local criminal defense attorneys and after doing research about their firms I realized sex crimes were mixed in with a plethora of other types of cases they handled. I thought of the expression jack of all trades master of none. My very life was at stake, so i did further research and that's when I found Patrick Clancy, that's all he worked on was sex crimes. Remember when I said master at his craft. So i called him at night and he answered.I gave him a brief description about my charge and we set up an appointment the next evening. Patrick Clancy was about an hour away and when your facing prison, i would have driven ten, you don't always neen a local attorney. If you do so happen to live in Walnut Creek then Patrick Clancy Should be your attorney. Thank you Patrick, i will never forget you, thank you soo much. If i could give you more than 5 stars i would.
    This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
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    Attorney endorsements

    (11)
    Are you an attorney? Endorse this lawyer

    David Carico, Child abuse Attorney on Jun 9, 2019
    Relationship: Worked together on matter

    As an Appellate Law Specialist, I am in the unique position where I can see the work done by many different attorneys throughout California. On a number of occasions, I have been asked to write difficult trial motions for Mr. Clancy. Because of this experience working with Mr. Clancy and his team, I have come to know Mr. Clancy on a professional basis. He has a reputation within the Legal Community of being a strategist without rival and dogged advocate for his clients in the field of Child Molestation Cases; a field where many attorneys struggle because of the complexities of the cases and the need for an understanding of child development, memory, suggestibility, and other specialized fields of study unique to these cases. In my opinion, Mr. Clancy’s reputation is well earned, garnered from over four decades of complex and challenging trial advocacy. I look forward to working with Patrick Clancy in his new role as “Chief Strategist” of the Innocence Legal Team.

    John Forsyth, Sex crime Attorney on Oct 23, 2018
    Relationship: Worked together on matter

    There is none better. I have known and worked with Patrick Clancy for over 20 years. I know of no other attorney with the same work ethic or dedication to his clients. What speaks volumes is the results he achieves on the most serious accusations of sexual misconduct. Simply put, he wins!!!

    Michael Burt, Criminal defense Attorney on Oct 22, 2018
    Relationship: Worked together on matter

    I endorse this lawyer. By reputation and by working with him I can attest that Patrick is a very capable and well qualified criminal defense lawyer. In fact, one of the best I have worked with.

    Shep Zebberman, Criminal defense Attorney on May 11, 2015
    Relationship: Worked together on matter

    My name is Shep Zebberman. I am a criminal defense attorney in Encino, CA. I have known Pat Clancy for almost 3 years. We have worked together on many cases and I have also gone through numerous training sessions he has taught on the area of child molestation, child abuse and various other sex crimes. He is extremely knowledgeable on the law and may have more experience in the sex crimes field than any other attorney in California. He has provided training to the Public Defender’s office on various sex crimes and has successfully represented countless clients accused of child molestation, child abuse, and various other sex crimes. In addition to his knowledge, experience, successful track record , he also communicates well with his clients and is able to put their mind at ease through a very difficult situation.

    Demosthenes Lorandos, Sex crime Attorney on May 11, 2015
    Relationship: Worked together on matter

    “Patrick Clancy, Founder of the Innocence Legal Team, is among the top five child molestation defense trial attorneys in the United States. We jointly created State Bar of California approved continuing education courses covering all issues in child molestation defense and have taught hundreds of attorneys in the techniques of defending these cases. I was his expert witness in a case that NBC filmed for three weeks and made into a television special. We have also worked on child molestation cases as attorneys together. I know of no one that has tried and won more child molestation defenses.” Demosthenes Lorandos, PhD in Psychology, Doctorate in Law, Licensed in New York, Washington, D.C., Michigan, and California. Noted author/co-author of “Cross Examining Experts in the Behavioral Sciences”, “The International Handbook of Parental Alienation Syndrome”, “Parental Alienation - Handbook for Mental Health and Legal Professionals” and “Benchbook in the Behavioral Sciences”.

    David Pastor, Sex crime Attorney on May 10, 2015
    Relationship: Worked together on matter

    I endorse this lawyer. “My name is David Pastor and I have been a criminal defense attorney since 1977 in Walnut Creek, CA. I referred my first case to Pat Clancy over 30 years ago. Since then I have referred countless clients to him for representation. You may ask why I would refer a client to Pat when I could do it myself. Pat has devoted his law practice to defending those accused of sexual offenses. I have watched him in court and his knowledge, skill and expertise are unmatched among California attorneys. I want my clients to receive the best attorney and Pat is the best. Very few attorneys specialize in sexual offenses. Pat has excellent people skills with clients. Judges and District Attorneys all across California know that he will leave no stone unturned for his client. He gets excellent results. I highly recommend Pat Clancy.”

    Michael Waddington, Criminal defense Attorney on Jun 12, 2014
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    I endorse Patrick. He is a highly skilled attorney that is well respected in the legal community.

    Markus Dombois, Criminal defense Attorney on Jul 8, 2011
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    Sex abuse cases are the most difficult cases to defend because society's abhorrence of these crimes and the consequential rush to judgment. Mr. Clancy is one of the best lawyers you could have at your side, should be falsely accused of this type of crime. I've attended his seminars and accessed his information that he provides freely on his website. For these reasons, I wholeheartedly endorse him as a fighter who must overcome almost insurmountable odds.

    Carin Johnson, Criminal defense Attorney on Nov 7, 2010
    Relationship: Worked together on matter

    Mr. Clancy is an excellent lawyer. He is compassionate about his clients and works tirelessly for them.

    William Daley, Criminal defense Attorney on Jan 31, 2010
    Relationship: Worked for lawyer

    I have know Mr. Clancy for several years, and have had the pleasure of working for Mr. Clancy the law few months. I have never meet a lawyer that knows more about sex related offenses. Even after 35 years of experience in heavy criminal defense, I am learning. He has my highest recommendation.

    Alexander Henderson, Criminal defense Attorney on Nov 16, 2009
    Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

    Mr. Clancy has dedicated himself to providing unparalleled legal representation to the wrongfully accused as well as developing a technologically based model of 'best practices' for handling complex and difficult litigation. I recommend his work unhesitatingly.