Todd Means

Todd Means initially became interested in law to help "the little guy." After working for an educational nonprofit during and after college, Todd entered Loyola Law School, Los Angeles to become a civil rights attorney. However, he quickly realized that protecting the constitutional rights of the accused was his true passion. During law school, he interned at the Ventura County Public Defender’s Office, was a member of Loyola Law School's Juvenile Innocence and Fair Sentencing Clinic, and was a Judicial Extern for the Second District of the California Court of Appeal.

After receiving his J.D. from Loyola, he began working as a Ventura County Deputy Public Defender. There, he learned that even though the criminal justice system is stacked against the defendant, hard-work and a willingness to fight for your clients gets results. His tenure as a Deputy Public Defender exposed Todd to almost every criminal allegation imaginable, from Penal Code to Fish and Wildlife Code violations. He is most comfortable in the courtroom, cross-examining adverse witnesses, arguing motions, and fighting for his client's rights. During his three years in Ventura County, Todd handled hundreds of cases a year and took the second highest number of cases to jury trial (Bailey K.F. Means had the highest).

Some criminal defense attorneys shy away from legal writing, but Todd sees thoughtfully crafted motions and appeals as important tools. At the time of this writing, a case he briefed and argued before the Ventura County Superior Court Appellate Division while a Deputy Public Defender is awaiting decision from the California Court of Appeal.

After leaving the Public Defender's Office, Todd served as a State Bar Prosecutor with the Office of the Chief Trial Counsel in Los Angeles, California. While he values the time he spent protecting the public from the misconduct of unethical attorney, he missed fighting for his clients.

• Free Consultation
• Credit Cards Accepted

California

Partner and Attorney at Law

Means & Means LLP

Current

Deputy Trial Counsel

State Bar of California

2018

Deputy Public Defender

Ventura County Public Defender's Office

2017

Loyola Law School, Los Angeles

J.D. | Law

Honors: Merit Scholar Recipient, Best Brief (Scott Moot Court), Best Brief (ABA Moot Court Las Vegas Regionals), Top Oralist - 8th Place (ABA Moot Court Las Vegas Regionals)

Activities: Juvenile Innocence and Fair Sentencing Clinic, American Bar Association Moot Court Team, Scott Moot Court, Scott Moot Court Honors Board

California State University - Fullerton

B.A. | Business Administration

Honors: Cum Laude, Beta Gamma Sigma

Best Brief

ABA Moot Court Las Vegas Regionals

2014

Top Oralist - 8th Place

ABA Moot Court Las Vegas Regionals

2014

Best Brief

Scott Moot Court

2013

State Bar of California  # 300259

Member

Current

Los Angeles County Bar Association

Current

Japanese American Bar Association

Current

Felony-murder rule gets a fix, but jury still out on bail reform

Ventura County Star

December 8, 2018

It's legal, but not overly legal: Criminal defense attorneys answer 10 questions about weed

Long Beach Post

November 5, 2018

Ethics Crash Course: Top State Bar Complaints Ethics MCLE, Long Beach Bar Association Super Saturday MCLE, California State University, Long Beach

October 20, 2018

Long Beach Bar Association