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Brendan M. Barrett

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Brendan M. Barrett

5.0
24 reviews
This is an aggregated review score of Avvo and Lawyers.com reviews.
Rating: 10.0

Licensed for 16 years

DUI and DWI Lawyer at San Jose, CA
Practice Areas: DUI & DWI, Criminal Defense, Expungement

1939 The Alameda, San Jose, CA

Virtual Consultation Available

Free Consultation

Call for a FREE consultation (408) 508-3154

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Brendan M. Barrett's Website
Overview Reviews Experience Activity
Overview Reviews Experience Activity
Call for a FREE consultation (408) 508-3154

About Brendan

Biography

Navigating the channels of the justice system can be an intimidating and daunting venture; I take pride in making that experience as pleasant as possible for my clients. Call me for a free consultation

Navigating the channels of the justice system can be an intimidating and daunting venture; I take pride in making that experience as pleasant as possible for my clients. Call me for a free consultation

Navigating the channels of the justice system can be an intimidating and daunting venture; I take pride in making that experience as pleasant as possible for my clients. Call me for a free consultation

Navigating the channels of the justice system can be an intimidating and daunting venture; I take pride in making that experience as pleasant as possible for my clients. Call me for a free consultation

Practice Areas

3

Practice Areas

DUI and DWI 50%

16 years

50%
Criminal Defense 40%

16 years

40%
Expungement 10%

10%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Free Consultation

$0 first 30 minutes

Retainer

Sometimes

Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

Awards

Client's Choice
Client's Choice
2025
Silver Client Champion

Avvo Client's Choice Awards

Client's Choice

The Avvo Client's Choice Award Badge is granted to attorneys with a significant number of 4+ star reviews in a given year.

Client's Choice
Client's Choice 2025

Silver Client Champion

Silver Client Champion

Client Champion awards recognize those attorneys who excel at service as affirmed by their clients. The awards, based on the quantity and quality of an attorney’s Martindale-Hubbell client reviews, demonstrate an ongoing commitment to delivering excellent client service.

This attorney has received at least 3 client reviews, and has an average score of 4.0 or higher.

Licenses

Licensed in California for 16 years

State: California

Acquired: 2009

Active

No misconduct found

Location

Law Office of Brendan Barrett

(408) 508-3154

Mobile

1939 The Alameda, San Jose, CA, 95126

barrettlaw.org/
Get Directions

Online Presence

Other places you can find Brendan online.

Brendan M. Barrett's Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (19) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.
Star rating
5 stars 19
4 stars 0
3 stars 0
2 stars 0
1 star 0
Practice Areas
Criminal Defense (9) DUI & DWI (4) Lawsuits & Disputes (4) Domestic Violence (1) Expungement (1)
What Clients Mention
Case Results (13) Advocacy (9) Recommendation (9) Professionalism (8) Responsiveness (7) Practice Area Knowledge (6) Trustworthiness (6) Communication Style (5) Cost of Services (4) General Knowledge (4) Character & Conduct (3) Compassion (2) Punctuality (2)

Showing 1 - 5 of 5 reviews | Communication Style

Posted by GRANT | October 26, 2025 | Hired Attorney | DUI & DWI

Truly excellent!!!

Brendan came as a HIGHLY recommended personal referral from a mutual friend who is also an attorney.  I didn't think anyone was going to take on my case, let alone tell me "You're going to be ok". I honestly didn't believe him at first. That has changed.  It is said, "You get what you pay for", a...nd in this case it is absolutely true. He was straight forward, honest and precise in all our correspondence throughout the process of my case.  DO WHAT HE SAYS.  I cannot stress this enough.  He knows what he is doing.  He has an excellent rapport with the courts, Judges, prosecutors and district attorneys in the San Jose and surrounding areas, (Santa Cruz County in my case).  He is patient, empathetic, compassionate and thorough.  Every question and concern I had was promptly answered, and he didn't sugar coat anything.  I was looking at some serious consequences that could have cost me everything I have.  My marriage, my house, my job.. All of it could have been gone if it weren't for the expert counsel that Brendan provided me.  By following his instructions we were able to impress the prosecutor with our mitigation package. So much so that they downgraded the charges from 2 felonies to one misdemeanor.  On top of that, he was able to negotiate a further reduction in my sentencing that will have me passed all this in a fraction of the time that would have been otherwise.  Because of him I will not see the inside of a jail cell. I will not miss work, and will be able to keep the bills paid and move on with my life.     Brendan is a true master of his craft, and I cannot efficiently express the level of gratitude, relief and hope that I feel as a result of his help. I wholeheartedly recommend Brendan to anyone who needs legal counsel, especially concerning a DUI.  I hope I never need legal assistance again,  but if I do, I'm calling Brendan Barrett.  You should too.  That is all. 

Posted by Shermanator | June 05, 2025 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

Talented lawyer

Brendan is a talented defense attorney and knows how to navigate the court system and fight for his clients. He met with us timely and answered all of our questions. He gave us recommendations how to navigate the court process at our first meeting even if we didn't hire him right then and there. We ...ultimately hired him and had a successful resolution to my father's case- it was dismissed due to his dedication to the case. We would 100% hire him again and recommend him to anyone in need of legal assistance.

Posted by anonymous | April 05, 2016 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense

Couldn't be happier

Brendan was recommended to me by a very high profile attorney in the SJ area who already had a huge case load but said he highly suggested Brendan. After meeting with 3 separate attorneys, Brendan won my business. During our initial consultation, Brendan was very attentive and spent close to 40 mi...nutes with me talking through my case (a minor misdemeanor). He set clear expectations that my charge was probably not going to be reduced, but that it was a possibility. His price/rate was very competitive and he seemed willing to negotiate price and provide a bit of wiggle room on a case by case basis which I found to be a very refreshing tactic in order to win his clients' business. During the course of my case/hearings, Brendan was very communicative via email (my preferred method of communication) and detailed what steps were being taken, updates on the case, and future court dates. At the conclusion of my case, my initial misdemeanor was reduced to an infraction and a $75 fine, which was a much better outcome than I expected. Even if Brendan had not been able to get the charge dropped, I would still highly recommend him, as I felt that he went above and beyond to pay attention to my relatively small charge, even though I know he had much larger cases in his case load.

Posted by Jeff | April 14, 2014 | Criminal Defense

THE BEST CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER IN SAN JOSE, CA

PART 1 If I could describe Brendan Barrett in 3 words they would be: Professional, Confident, and Effective. Brendan is hands down, the text book example of an AMAZING lawyer. Brendan lays everything out on the table for you from the beginning, explains his tactics and executes them flawlessly... throughout the case. During a criminal case, this is the kind of lawyer that will help you sleep at night and help you know you are in the best hands for criminal defense. But please don’t take my word for it, let me tell you about my 2 cases I hired Brendan for and you make your decision. 11/2010 I was 20 years old fresh out of college. I just graduated for hospitality management and was taking my first dip in the wonderful world of restaurant management. Growing up I had major depression and anxiety issues and was prescribed a number of drugs throughout the years. But one that really stuck with me was Ativan which is a benzodiazepine just like Xanax. I had been taking a dose of 2 mg 3 times a day for 6 years. I was totally functional on it, without question. On my way up to San Mateo one evening on my second week to work, I wasn’t paying attention and I missed the exit I was supposed to take. At the time I had pretty basic blackberry and no knowledge of how to get around San Mateo. I was driving trying to figure out where I was going while looking at my phone and I end up side swiping 3 cars parked in a small neighborhood on the side of the street. A couple people saw me and I did the responsible thing and called the police to have them take my insurance down. At this point I was on the edge of a panic attack by time the cops showed up. When they finally showed up I was in panic, apologizing, and asking for help. They began to ask me the typical cop questions, have you been drinking? Doing drugs? Ect. I hadn’t so I said “no”. They breathalized me 3 times, blew 0.00 each time, made me do sobriety tests, which they said I failed. They went through my car and found my medication. They asked how many I took, I told them I took my daily dosage. They quickly handcuffed me and gave me a DUI under the influence of my prescribed medication I had been taking for 6 years. After a night in jail and a $300 impound ticket I immediately began looking around for lawyers, I was so scared and stressed to the point I just wanted to sleep all day and try to forget about reality. I lost my job and feared of what else I was going to loose from the DUI. I got in touch with a call center who assigns a lawyers to clients, and Brendan was my man. Brendan laid everything out on the table. What the case looked like, what his tactics were going to be, what chances I had, and what the consequences could be in the end. I felt extremely better after hiring Brendan, like the weight just came off my shoulders. Almost a year later we finally went to trial. During that year Brendan had my DUI case dismissed which was a huge deal to me, because my license was at stake. When we finally showed up the criminal trial, the D.A wanted to meet us with a plea of wet and wreck less, which was a lot better than a D.U.I but in California they will take away you license for a being under 21 with a wet and wreck less. Brendan gave me my options and we decided to go to trial. The trial lasted a whole week, and had a full jury, witnesses, toxicologist, the works. Brendan, picked out a good jury, hired a AMAZING toxicologist who basically wrote the book on Alcohol and Drug Detection in California, called great witnesses, poked amazing holes in the D.A and the Cops who arrested me. And even had me go on the stand and testify myself, which was a bold move on both our parts, but Brendan gave me the confidence to battle the D.A and protected me while I was on the stand. CONTINUE TO PART 2

Posted by Jeff | April 14, 2014 | Criminal Defense

THE BEST CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER IN SAN JOSE, CA

PART 2 In the end, after a whole week, we won the case. The case had a hung jury, 11 believed me innocent 1 believed me guilty. BRENDAN CONQUIRED THE COURT ROOM ON A COMPLICATED CASE!! ALSO THE D.A HE WAS UP AGAINST NEVER LOST A CASE BEFORE MINE!! The reason that this case was complicated was... because pharmaceutical medications are not in court rooms as much as drugs and alcohol. Meaning that if your going to win a case like mine, it means alot of reading up and studying to find an angle to win the case. While giving a jury a crash course on the substance so they understand the lawyers and what the toxicologist is talking about. JUST GOES TO SHOW THAT BRENDAN IS EXTREMLY ITELLIGENT AS WELL. In the end, I kept my license, no crime on my record, and owed no money to the court. Just to Brendan who deserved every penny. 1/14 Earlier this January, I was driving back home in San Jose, CA on 680 around 10:00 PM. I was speeding and had a few drinks before I left. I was pulled over by CHP, did a sobriety test and breathalyzer and blew a 0.09, but when I went down to the police station, I blew a 0.07 and a 0.06 in the calibrated machine. But I still was giving a DUI just for alcohol this time. Same ordeal, night in jail, $300 impound fee. Guess who I called? Brendan was happy to hear from me, not happy about what happened, but like always was willing to help. I went to his office in downtown SJ. Same thing, he laid out the case on the table, told me his tactics, told me my chances, and told me my consequences. I walked out of his office, and felt like I had nothing to fear. A month later, Brendan gets the DUI case thrown out, saves my license. A month after, Brendan tells me that D.A was accepting his plea of wet and wreckless, which is way better than a DUI. It is a lower fine and hardly any classes or community service. But it gets better, Brendan is a well liked guy in his circles AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT DOWN FROM A DUI TO A PLAIN OLD WRECKLESS DRIVING. NO CLASSES, NO COMMUNITY SERVCE, JUST PAY THE COURT $1000. The best part was, I didn’t even take one step in a court room. I just lived my life and put it in Brendan hands and got the next best thing to having the whole thing dismissed. In the end, in my opinion, Brendan is the best choice for criminal defense. He is intelligent, professional, effective, and most of all re-assuring and friendly which is what you really need in a time of need. I don’t condone any of the things I did, but everyone makes mistakes and sometimes we need help dealing with those mistakes. FOR THOSE MISTAKES, BRENDAN BARRET IS YOU BEST CHOICE!!!! Thanks for everything Brendan. Keep up the good work. Your Friend and Client.

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Brendan M. Barrett's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Brendan
Ahmad Abu Askar headshot
Ahmad Abu Askar

Criminal defense lawyer | Aug 26

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Brendan was incredibly helpful as I was just getting started. He showed me the ropes early on and guided me through setting up my solo practice. His practical advice and support have been invaluable at this stage."

Negad Amr Zaky headshot
Negad Zaky

Criminal defense lawyer | Feb 02

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Brendan is a dedicated advocate who communicates effectively and compassionately with his clients. He is highly regarded in the criminal defense community as a knowledgeable practitioner and resource for younger attorneys."

Edward N. Ajlouny headshot
Edward Ajlouny

Criminal defense lawyer | May 16

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer."

Richard Alan Wingerden headshot
Richard Wingerden

Criminal defense lawyer | Oct 15

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer. I have had the opportunity to witness his work in the courtroom and have found him to be diligent and hardworking. He is well respected in the legal community."

Brian Michael Burns headshot
Brian Burns

Criminal defense lawyer | May 21

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse this lawyer. Mr. Barrett is a highly skilled criminal defense attorney that knows Northern California Courts. We worked together for almost two years. Brendan is aggressive with district attorneys and judges but is warm and welcoming with clients. I would recommend Mr. Barrett to anyone who is charged with a criminal offense."

Michael S. Waddington headshot
Michael Waddington

Criminal defense lawyer | Jun 13

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

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

Darryl Elliot Young headshot
Darryl Young

Criminal defense lawyer | Dec 09

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"Brendan is an amazing attorney with attention to detail and consistently achieving outstanding results! I heartily endorse Brendan and will continue to refer clients to this outstanding attorney!"

Michael J Silveira headshot
Michael Silveira

Criminal defense lawyer | Nov 22

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"Brendan is an extremely talented and sharp Criminal Defense Attorney. We have worked together on matters in the past, and I am extremely impressed by his intellectually ability and his passion to obtain the best results possible for his clients. Consider yourself lucky if he is able to take your case!"

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Peter Maurice Gimbel headshot
Peter Gimbel

Employment and labor lawyer

Jamie Nichole Harris headshot
Jamie Harris

Criminal defense lawyer

Experience

Rating:  10.0 (Superb)

Honors

2025

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2024

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2023

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2022

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2021

Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2019

Rising Star, Super Lawyers

2018

Rising Star, Super Lawyers

2014

Rising Star, Super Lawyers

Work Experience

2009 - Present

Owner, Law Office of Brendan Barrett

Associations

2009 - Present

Criminal Law

Sample of Legal Cases

People v. Dagayray, et.al

Full acquittal.

See More Legal Cases

Education

2009

University of San Francisco School of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

N/A

Boston University

BA - Bachelor of Arts

Speaking Engagements

N/A

PILF

Public Interest Law

Languages

English

Spanish

Activity

1

Legal Answers

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