Nicole Valentine

Nicole Valentine

also known as Nicole Mullikin

4.9
Rating: 8.2

Licensed for 19 years

Medical malpractice Lawyer at Sacramento, CA
Practice Areas: Medical Malpractice, Licensing, Criminal Defense

2150 River Plaza Drive, Ste 250, Sacramento, CA

About Nicole

Biography

Practice Areas

3

Practice Areas

Medical Malpractice 70%

I represent physicians and hospitals in medical malpractice claims.

70%
Licensing 25%

I represent professional licensees with reporting convictions, Accusations, hearings, and petitions to reinstate.

14 years

25%
Criminal Defense 5%

I represent licensed professionals facing felony, and misdemeanor charges

20 years

5%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Free Consultation

$0 first 15 minutes


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

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Licenses

Licensed in California for 19 years

State: California

Acquired: 2006

Active

No misconduct found

Location

Low McKinley Baleria LLP

2150 River Plaza Drive, Ste 250, Sacramento, CA, 95833

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Nicole Valentine's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.9 /5.0

169 Client Reviews

Showing 46 - 50 of 67 reviews | Practice Area Knowledge

Posted by Harry | April 17, 2019 | Hired Attorney | Ethics & Professional Responsibility

Best lawyer to deal with BRN

I retained with Nicole for disclosure to BRN and she did a wonderful job guiding me through this process. There was no stone left unturned and my disclosure letter was refined and completed under her direction. Her guidance can save your License. Just cal Goyette associates and retain Nicole.

Posted by Andreas | December 25, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Administrative Law

Best RN License Defense Lawyer EVER!

I found Nicole Valentine after a one month long search of lawyers who have experience in license defense in California. I chose Nicole for five reasons: She has a 5 star rating on AVVO She was recommended personally by a friend’s co-worker She had experience in license defense, specifically with ...the California Board of Registered Nursing She charged a reasonable rate Though she wouldn’t promise me success, she had been successful for the person recommending her, and had a good success rate. I arrived at this decision after a 13 year long legal nightmare. Here is why I needed help in 2018 from Mrs. Valentine: My license had an accusation by the BRN in 2010 relating to my care of a patient in 2005. I had already relocated to my home state of Washington. My attorney was able to secure an offer of probation, but the probation could not be done from Washington, forcing a relocation I was financially unable to burden He advised me to take a voluntary surrender of my license. He neglected to inform me that this was essentially equal to having your license revoked by the state, and carried most of the negative consequences. He was unaware that this would have consequences in Washington. As a result my Washington license was suspended. I found an excellent attorney in Washington who was able to get my license back within six weeks. I had lost my job as a pediatric ER nurse. In 2018 after a congressional change in hiring practices, I was terminated from my position as an ER nurse at the Veterans Administration hospital where I worked. I’m giving you a lot of background information because I think it’s important to know how bad of a situation Nicole Valentine of Goyette and Associates was able to resolve favorably for me. After a free consultation she felt that she would be able to get me the best possible outcome. She is knowledgable about the board, what they look for, and what to expect throughout the process. Over the course of a month, Nicole and her team helped me to put together a mitigation package that highlighted the past thirteen years of my nursing career. Included were letters of recommendation, performance evaluations, continuing education certificates and awards. Mrs. Valentine argued my case in front of an Administrative Law Judge, and based on the strength of our case, her knowledge of the BRN and it’s requirements, was able to successfully argue for complete reinstatement of my license. No probation. No further hoops to jump through. Words are unable to express my sincere and deep appreciation to Nicole for her work, for the efforts of her team in building my case, and for her expert and in-depth knowledge of what is required to come before the Board of Registered Nursing. In reading this, I hope that I have conveyed sufficient confidence to choose Nicole Valentine to represent you. I’m so glad I did.

Posted by anonymous | November 27, 2018 | Hired Attorney | DUI & DWI

License saver!

With a DUI, as an RN in CA, the BRN can be a nightmare. Those people are not RN friends, as a matter a fact, they will try to trick you to enroll to a "Diversion Program" which is designed to ruin you, or just flat out ruin your career. BRN will make sure that you will fail and will never work as a n...urse again. Nicole has guide me through the process and provide me with laundry list of documents that needed and helped me with my personal statement. The whole nightmare ends up with a fine and citation which doesn't go public. Bravo, Nicole! I wish I hired you first when I got my DUI because my previous lawyer pretty much screwed me up, especially because you understand the impact of DUI to a nursing career (which my DUI lawyer did not know crap) Don't go facing the BRN alone. you will fail miserably, because of all the pitfalls designed to trap you! Nicole is the one that advised me to ignore the BRN's "Diversion Program" trick, and golly, was she right! With Nicole on your side, your chance of saving your license is improved by 200%!

Posted by Mildred | November 16, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Administrative Law

Thank you Nicole!

Nicole Valentine had tremendously helped me in my BRN case interview preparation up to the interview itself she was there for me. Nicole is very much experienced, smart, kind and compassionate with no pretensions. Through out the whole process she was on top of the situation and was always available ...whenever I have some questions. I'm thankful that I have a great professional lawyer on my side during those pressured times.

Posted by anonymous | September 10, 2018 | Hired Attorney | DUI & DWI

Best Decision

I am a 27 year old RN with a DUI (0.16%) and a collision, first offense. After hiring a DUI lawyer who promised me he had nursing experience and then denied it later and left me high and dry with the BRN, I found Nicole through RN Guardian. I had called many others who claimed RN/DUI specialty who of...fered to talk to me for $10k. Not only were her prices totally reasonable, Nicole was knowledgeable, confident, and unbeatable in her success rate. She was available, clear, and supportive throughout the process and as promised, she got me the best possible outcome for my individual situation. It was a long wait for the BRN but they agreed to settle with a Public Reproval instead of 3-5 years of probation or even worse, revoking my license. If you are going through this process, you know that this is a game changer. I cannot thank or recommend Nicole enough. You will not regret hiring her!

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Nicole Valentine's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Nicole
Aaron Doyle headshot
Aaron Doyle

Licensing lawyer | Mar 10

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"I wholeheartedly endorse Nicole. I have worked with her on opposing matters for the past several years and recently together as co-counsel. She is always well prepared, articulate and professional. Nicole is a true and zealous warrior for her clients."

Jamie Evan Silverstein headshot
Jamie Silverstein

Licensing lawyer | May 20

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I endorse this lawyer. She is very bright, competent and she fights hard for her clients. She’s also a great communicator."

John William Thornton headshot
John Thornton

Licensing lawyer | May 20

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"I have referred several nurses in trouble with the BRN (DUI, stealing medications, etc.) to Nicole - all of them have been happy with her representation and results. I've been impressed enough to refer other lawyers to her. She works well with other attorneys to achieve a result that is good both on the criminal front and the licensing front."

View All Endorsements
Samuel Eugene Spital headshot
Samuel Spital

Administrative law lawyer

Jamie Evan Silverstein headshot
Jamie Silverstein

Criminal defense lawyer

John William Thornton headshot
John Thornton

DUI and DWI lawyer

Experience

Rating:  8.2 (Excellent)

Work Experience

2025 - Present

Associate Attorney, Low McKinley Baleria, LLP

2013 - 2025

Managing Attorney of Professional Licensing Division, Goyette and Associates

2006 - 2013

Assistant Public Defender, Ciummo & Associates

2003 - 2005

Law Clerk, Protection & Advocacy, Inc.

Associations

2016 - Present

National Council of Jewish Women

Member

2005 - Present

California Public Defenders Association

Member

2016 - 2018

National Council of Jewish Women

Board Member

Education

2005

McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific

JD - Juris Doctor

2001

University of Central Florida

BA - Bachelor of Arts

N/A

University of Northampton

Semester Abroad

Speaking Engagements

2023

Academy of Medical Surgical Nurses Annual Convention What to Do When a Nurse is Caught Diverting Controlled Substances

2022

ASMN Annual Convention

What to Do When a Nurse is Under Investigation

Languages

English

Activity

Avvo Rating

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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