Benjamin I. Schiff

Prior to entering private practice Ben Schiff was a deputy public defender in Riverside County for 11 years where he worked his way up to trial attorney for some of the most serious and difficult cases:

Violent felonies including murders, attempted murders, gang-related crime, adult and child sexual assault and abuse cases, felony domestic violence cases, violent assault and robbery cases, drug transportation and sales cases, as well as complex fraud, embezzlement and theft cases.

Prior to his work in Riverside, Ben was a deputy public defender in Los Angeles County where he went to trial regularly in a variety of misdemeanor and felony cases.

Though Ben was handling a wide variety of interesting, difficult cases, he left the public defender’s office to gain the private control required to give more comprehensive attention to these kinds of cases. Ben will enlist the finest experts and investigators he has worked with over the years to assist as needed in your defense.

Born on the U.S.-Mexico border, Spanish his first language, Ben received his law degree in 1985 from University of San Diego Law School, graduating with Magna Cum Laude honors. He emphasized criminal defense work by participating in the criminal law clinic and on the law school national trial team; he also did advanced work in the area of criminal procedure and worked as a summer clerk for a prominent San Diego criminal defense firm. This interest in criminal law began with undergraduate criminal justice, ethics and philosophy classes. Ben graduated from Stanford University in 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy with Honors in the Humanities. Between college and law school, Ben spent three years in private business and later spent 17 years in New York City training and working as a stage actor.

University of San Diego School of Law

J.D. (1985) | Law

1982 - 1985

Honors: Magna Cum Laude

Stanford University

B.A. (1979) | Philosophy

1975 - 1979

Honors: Honors in the Humanities

Deputy Public Defender

Riverside County Office of the Public Defender

2008 - 2019

Trial attorney for misdemeanor and felony cases.

Deputy Public Defender

Los Angeles County Office of the Public Defender

1986 - 1989

Trial Attorney for misdemeanor and felony cases.

Magna Cum Laude Honors

University of San Diego School of Law

1985

Top 5% Graduate

Honors in the Humanities

Stanford University

1979

National Association of Criminal Defense Trial Lawyers

Member

Current

California public Defender Association

Member

Current

CALIFORNIA DUI LAWYERS ASSOCIATION

Member

Current

Riverside County Bar Association

Member

Current

San Bernardino County Bar Association

Member

Current

California

Since 1986

• Free Consultation