Dirk L. Manoukian

Dirk Manoukian is an attorney with strong ties to both California and Nevada, and a deep commitment to obtaining the best possible results for each and every client he has the privilege to represent. Dirk’s legal acumen is complemented by a competitiveness honed as a High School All-American wrestler from Nevada who went on to San Jose State University to wrestle and play football. Dirk’s roots in the Bay Area go back to the 1960’s when his father was a member of the original 1960 Oakland Raiders.

In 1991, Dirk graduated in the top of his class from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, and accepted a position as a Deputy District Attorney for the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office. From 1991 to 2005, Dirk prosecuted and supervised the prosecution of thousands of criminal cases. He personally tried over 100 jury trials ranging from misdemeanor crimes to lengthy death penalty homicide trials.

During his career as a government prosecutor, Dirk handled thousands of negotiations with other lawyers, judges, and special interest and advocacy groups. He has extensive experience evaluating and negotiating serious, complicated and often emotional matters. During his career, he developed substantial knowledge and skill in the procedural and substantive operations of the civil and criminal justice system and local law enforcement agencies, and has extensive experience in dealing with state and federal law enforcement agencies such as the Department of Justice, the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement, and NCIS and CID divisions of the Department of Defense.

Dirk has been an instructor for private attorneys and government agencies and has also instructed at local police academies, as well as state agencies such as the California Highway Patrol and the California Narcotic Officer’s Association. Additionally, Dirk has conducted symposiums for private attorneys on jury selection and jury trial tactics through the Contra Costa Bar Association. He has also authored a variety of training materials regarding procedural and substantive areas of law.

Dirk Manoukian is licensed to practice law in both California and Nevada and regularly appears in state and federal court in both of those states.