Mary-Margaret Bierbaum

Mary-Margaret Bierbaum

5.0
Rating: 9.9

Licensed for 42 years

Criminal defense Lawyer at Santa Cruz, CA
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense, Mediation, DUI & DWI

P.O. Box 24, Santa Cruz, CA

About Mary-Margaret

Biography

Practice Areas

3

Practice Areas

Mediation 30%

16 years

30%
DUI and DWI 20%

41 years

20%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Retainer

Always


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

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Licenses

Licensed in California for 42 years

State: California

Acquired: 1983

Inactive

No misconduct found

Location

Mary-Margaret Bierbaum

P.O. Box 24, Santa Cruz, CA, 95063

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Mary-Margaret Bierbaum's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

13 Client Reviews

5 star (13)
4 star (0)
3 star (0)
2 star (0)
1 star (0)

Posted by anonymous | May 18, 2016 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Excellent Legal Help

In 2011, M-M Bierbaum helped us deal with my son's legal issue in Santa Cruz, when he was a student at Cal Berkeley, and we lived in southern California. She was very personable, direct, clear, and her office staff was amazing at keeping us apprised of what was happening.

Posted by Cameron | September 26, 2013

Compassionate, knowledgeable, determined, and on your side throughout the process with great results!

Mary_Margaret Bierbaum offers and executes excellent legal advice and representation. Her attention to detail, extensive knowledge of the law and one's rights, combines with her strong positive spirit, uplifting and turning cases upside down for dismissals and monumental outcomes. I couldn't be more ...pleased with how she conducts her practice. Having an amazing secretary/paralegal was a huge benefactor. This allowed me to easily discuss my case in detail at any given time while also providing detailed updates, reminders, and important questions relative to my case. I can say that she goes above and beyond for every case she obtains and I highly recommend hiring her for any legal matters. She's not only professional but is genuinely a good spirited determined woman that prepares to represent her clients in the most favorable outcomes using extensive research and facts that are truly benefactors in dismissing your case. I will forever recommend Ms. Mary-Margaret Bierbaum to family, friends, and anyone struggling with serious charges. I can't thank her enough.

Posted by Dana | June 20, 2011

Mary Margaret Bierbaum saved my life!

Mary-Margaret saved my life. She is the most compassionate, caring, dedicated and intelligent lawyer I have ever met. She not only fights for your rights, but she fights to get your life back to normal. Dealing with lawyers, court dates, paperwork, insurance companies, the DMV and district attorneys ...can be the scariest and most overwhelming experience to live through. For me, this was all occurring after the most traumatic and life threatening experience of my life. I can't imagine anyone else I would want on my side, fighting for me, than Mary-Margaret Bierbaum. She stuck with my case and continued to diligently investigate through seven months of being thrown through the ringer by the courts and DMV. She stuck by my side and fought for me at every chance, doing everything in her power to not only help me in the courts, but to provide me with resources to make my medical, insurance, and DMV situations easier and my overall life better. She is more than a lawyer. Mary-Margaret Bierbaum is a public servant defending those that cannot help themselves. She is no longer my lawyer, but my friend and role model.

Posted by Rick | January 26, 2011

Great Lawyer

I was very pleased with her efforts to defend me in a DUI case. She successfully negotiated the case with the Assistant District Attorney and I am completely satisfied with her representation. I hope to never have to use her services again!!

Posted by Matthew | January 26, 2011

Wonderful and fair mediator

Ms. Bierbaum was an extremely effective and knowledgeable mediator. Additionally, she was kind to both sides and very fair. Finally, she was affable and pleasure to work with. I would recommend her mediation services to anyone and plan to use them myself again if the situation arises.

See All Client Reviews

Mary-Margaret Bierbaum's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Mary-Margaret
Aaron Christopher Harper headshot
Aaron Harper

Criminal defense lawyer | Oct 04

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Christian K. Lassen II headshot
Christian Lassen

Criminal defense lawyer | Dec 27

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. Her knowledge of complex legal issues is extensive, based on her AVVO answers."

James Carl Eschen III headshot
James Eschen

Criminal defense lawyer | Oct 01

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse this lawyer's work. I don't think I know any lawyers more aggressive than Mary-Margaret. She simply does not back down when protecting her clients."

Michelle Ellen Anderson headshot
Michelle Anderson

Personal injury lawyer | Aug 17

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer's work."

John Michael Gallagher headshot
John Gallagher

Criminal defense lawyer | Aug 11

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"I endorse this lawyer's work. I have know Mary Margaret Bierbaum for over 20 years and I was counsel for an opposing party(criminal defendant) during a serious felony trial when she worked in and represented the Santa Cruz County District Attorney's office. Ms Bierbaum is a skilled trial attorney and a hard working advocate for her clients who practices with honesty and integrity."

John Steven Burton headshot
John Burton

Criminal defense lawyer | Jul 23

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer's work."

Kelly Marie Klett headshot
Kelly Klett

Criminal defense lawyer | Jun 24

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I had the pleasure of working with Mary-Margaret Bierbaum on a criminal defense trial for misdemeanor DUI. She absolutely knocked my socks off with her skill to zealously and competently defend against a DUI charge. Hopefully you will never find yourself facing a DUI. But if you do, don't hesitate to call Mary-Margaret Bierbaum. She is an incredibly smart woman who has obviously mastered the area of criminal defense."

Lynn Gorelick headshot
Lynn Gorelick

DUI and DWI lawyer | May 27

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer's work. Mary-Margaret is always on top of the law. She is bright, aggressive and, at the same time, always concerned about her client's best interests. I endorse her without hesitation."

William C. Makler headshot
William Makler

Criminal defense lawyer | Mar 24

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"My first memory of Ms. Bierbaum is from my first week of a practice as a lawyer. I watched her stand her ground and tell a very prickly judge a thing or two about the law. He backed down and gave her what she wanted. Thereafter, I was always impressed by her strong presence in court. She is an excellent advocate for her clients."

View All Endorsements
James Carl Eschen III headshot
James Eschen

Litigation lawyer

Experience

Rating:  9.9 (Superb)

Honors

2008

super lawyer, Northern California Super Lawyers

2007

super lawyer, Northern California Super Lawyers

2006

Super Lawyer, Northern California Super Lawyers

1996

California Board of Specialization in Criminal Law, California Bar

N/A

Special Master, CA State Bar

Work Experience

2009 - Present

Attorney-Mediator, Monterey County Superior Court

Associations

2000 - Present

California Deuce Defenders

Member

1995 - Present

Women Defenders

Member

1992 - Present

California Public Defenders Association

Member

1990 - Present

Santa Cruz County Criminal Defense Bar Association

Member

1986 - Present

Women Lawyers of Santa Cruz County

Member

1986 - Present

Santa Cruz County Bar Association

Member

1983 - Present

State Bar of California

Member

2002 - 2005

Trial Lawyers for Public Justice

Member

2000 - 2000

Women Lawyers of Santa Cruz County

President

1992 - 2005

Consumer Attorneys of California

Member

Education

N/A

University of Colorado School of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

N/A

Georgetown University

N/A

University of California Berkeley

A.B.

Speaking Engagements

N/A

Western Service Workers

Guest Speaker

N/A

MCLE Speaker

Criminal Law, Session Leader

N/A

Criminal Law

Women & Alcohol

Publications

N/A

CoPIRG ON YOUR OWN, Small Claims Court

Languages

English

Activity

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
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  • 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