Julia Cassels

Julia Cassels

Experienced, aggressive major felony representation
  • Criminal Law
  • Arizona
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Biography

Ms. Cassels studied psychology and special education as an undergraduate.  Everything changed in her final semester at Augustana College when a grant was awarded by the Kellogg Foundation regarding juvenile justice issues.  After working on a particularly compelling murder case, where the defendant was just fourteen years old, she abandoned her Ph.D. applications and applied to law school. During law school, Ms. Cassels had the opportunity to do numerous clinical programs.  She graduated at the top of her class and was the recipient of the prestigious Dwight D. Opperman Scholarship. Ms. Cassels clerked for the Honorable Ronald Longstaff, presiding judge of the federal court in the Southern District of Iowa.  She also worked in the habeas unit.  Ms. Cassels relocated to Arizona  and began working at the Maricopa County Public Defender's Office.  Her responsibilities included all areas of indigent defense and provided a breadth of training and experience that she recalls very fondly.  Ms. Cassels opened her own firm in 2005.  Her focus was major felony criminal defense.  She has completed in excess of 75 felony jury trials.  Notable cases include a Not Guilty verdict on a drive-by shooting, a directed verdict on a sale of marijuana in excess of 70 lbs., and a Not Guilty verdict on a shooting between neighbors where she successfully impeached the victim and her motives.  She has also completed in excess of 25 misdemeanor trials.  Ms. Cassels had the opportunity to move into the field of immigration when many of her criminal clients also had immigration concerns.  She authored and argued the brief that led to the change of the state of the law regarding bondability for DACA clients.  Ms. Cassels is also an accomplished musician and a member of the Greater San Diego Orchestra. She has travelled extensively. She cooked professionally for a time, is a certified personal trainer, and an advocate for rescue animals.

Education
Drake University Law School
J.D.
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Honors: Recipient of the Opperman Scholarship; Top 10% of Class
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Augustana College
B.A. | Psychology and Special Education
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Honors: Class Valedictorian
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University of Wisconsin - Madison
Psychology and Special Education
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Professional Experience
Owner
Law Office of Julia Cassels
- Current
Attorney
Maricopa County Public Defenders Office
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Law Clerk
United States District Court-Southern District of Iowa
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Awards
Spring Essay Finalist
The Sartorialist
Opperman Scholarship
Drake Law School
Professional Associations
National Association of Professional Women
Member
- Current
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Greater San Diego Orchestra
Musician
- Current
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American Association of Immigration Attorneys
Member
- Current
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State Bar of Arizona  # 021578
Member
- Current
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Arizona Attorneys for Criminal Justice
Board of Governors
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Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
Arizona
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9th Circuit
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Fees
  • Credit Cards Accepted
  • Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
    Flat fees or hourly rates are available.
Practice Area
    Criminal Law
    Criminal Appeals, Drug Crimes, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes
Languages
  • English: Spoken, Written
  • Spanish: Spoken
Websites & Blogs
Website
Contact & Map
Law Office of Julia Cassels, PLLC
1726 N. 7th Street
PHOENIX, AZ 85006
Toll-Free: (480) 442-0740
Telephone: (480) 442-0740
Cell: (619) 455-6494