Bar/Professional Activity:

• West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce
• Women Lawyer's Association
• American Health Lawyers Association
• Executive Committee, Beverly Hills Bar Association
• Criminal Courts Bar Association
• Los Angeles County Bar Association
• California Attorneys for Criminal Justice
• Federal Bar Association
• Life Member and CLE Committee Member, NACDL (National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers)
• American Bar Association
• State Bar of California
• New York City Criminal Court
• United States District Court, Southern District of New York
• United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois
• United States District Court, Southern District of Texas
• United States District Court, District of New Mexico (Las Cruces/Albuquerque)
• United States District Court, District of Arizona (Phoenix)
• United States District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
• United States District Court, Southern District of Florida
• United States Military Courts, Edwards Air Force Base
• United States Supreme Court
• United States District Court, Central District of California
• Supreme Court of California (All California Courts)

Pro bono/Community Service:

• Volunteer Attorney/Legal Clinic Coordinator, Homeboy Industries
• Board Member, Mesereau, Ephraim, Villaraigosa Legal Clinic, Brookins A.M.E.
• Volunteer Attorney, FAME (First African Methodist Episcopal) Church – Legal Clinic

Scholarly Lectures and Writings:

• "Ethics & Bias", University of Southern California - Law School, 2005
• "Ethics & Bias - Substance Abuse in the Legal Profession", University of Southern California, 2006
• "Treatment v. Prison - Alternative Sentencing", Moments of Change Conference, 2007
• "Legal Consequences of Addiction", Moments of Change Conference, 2008
• Protect Your Rights: What to Say and Do When Confronted with Law Enforcement provides the reader with the basic do's and don'ts when confronted with law enforcement, be it a police officer, agent or detective.  Such encounter is both confusing, intimidating, and critical to the outcome of your case should one be filed against you. For a copy of this publication, please visit my webiste: www.azarilaw.com and click on the FAQs link, 2009

Representative Clients:

• MAN CHARGED WITH ASSAULT & BATTERY OF A TENANT, WITH GREAT BODILY HARM (STRIKE OFFENSE)Hamid R., a non-US citizen, was charged with multiple counts of assault and battery of his tenant upon collecting unpaid rent.  After a year-long and very zealous investigation as well as full trial preparation, on the first day of trial, prosecutors agreed with Sara Azari's re-enactment of the incident and the proposed defense.  As a result, the prosecution succumbed to the fact that they could not proceed with proving their case beyond a reasonable doubt.  All charges were fully dismissed.  As a result, Hamid was able to avoid the inevitable immigration consequences he would have faced if he were convicted of the subject offense.
• WOMAN CHARGED WITH TRANSPORTATION & POSSESSION FOR SALE OF DRUGSIn a multi-defendant case arising from arrests made at the Casino Morongo in Riverside, California, Miriam S. was charged with several violations of the California Health & Safety Code including transportation and possession for sale of methamphetamine, marijuana, and cocaine, as well as possession of paraphernalia.  Miriam was facing substantial time in state prison, and prosecutors persisted on the maximum sentence.  Ms. Azari aggressively negotiated the dismissal of all charges against Miriam pending completion of three years of probation.  The dismissal was in the interest of justice, and not merely a product of an expungement petition.  Miriam served no time in jail.  She has since obtained a Bachelor's degree as well as a license to practice as a real estate broker in California.
• GRAND THEFT CHARGES DISMISSED!Phillip C. was charged with grand theft of property in the amount of $6000 based on allegations that he stole merchandise from his workplace.  Phillip faxed 16 months to 3 years of imprisonment, or at a minimum county jail time.  Ms. Azari obtained a full dismissal of all charges against Phillip C.  Phillip was able to complete his college education and pursue his dream of becoming a law enforcement officer.
• MAN RECEIVES INFORMAL PROBATION FOR GRAND THEFT CHARGESCharged with felony grand theft of property in the amount of $19,500, Brian P. received only one year of informal probation for a lesser misdemeanor offense as a result of Sara Azari's investigation, comprehensive defense, and aggressive negotiations.
• YOUNG MAN CHARGED WITH FIRST DEGREE (ARMED ROBBERY)While on probation for a previous robbery conviction, Brejone R. was charged with two counts of first-degree (armed) robbery.  This would a second "strike" for Brejone under California law.  Upon the close of the preliminary hearing defended by Sara Azari, all of the charges against Brejone were fully dismissed.
• MAN CHARGED WITH SPOUSAL BATTERY (FELONY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESULTING IN CORPORAL INJURIES)Joseph J. was charged with felony domestic battery in the Orange County Superior Court.  The Complaint alleged serious injury to his spouse resulting from the alleged acts of violence.  Joseph ultimately walked away with a citation/infraction for disturbing the peace.
• NURSE FACED LICENSE REVOCATION BY THE CALIFORNIA BOARD OF NURSINGSvitlana M. was a vocational nurse who faced permanent license revocation by the Board of Vocational Nursing in California.  This followed a conviction for petty theft.  Ms. Azari was able to negotiate a warning letter in lieu of revocation or any type of suspension, restriction or ineligibility in her chosen profession.
• PREGNANT WOMAN CHARGED WITH DRUG TRAFFICKING, SALES & TRANSPORTATION OF DRUGSElizabeth G. was indicated in the U.S. District Court in New Mexico.  She faced charges for possession for sale of 49 kilos of marijuana with a value of $93,120, and for possession of a firearm in the commission of the drug offense.  Instead of a 10 year mandatory prison sentence, Sara Azari was able to obtain a disposition limited to 6 months of home confinement as part of a 2-year probation term.  Elizabeth was able to work, maintain her freedom and her ability to give birth and bond with her child in the privacy of her own home.
• PREGNANT WOMAN CHARGED WITH DRUG TRAFFICKING, SALES & TRANSPORTATION OF DRUGSElizabeth G. was indicated in the U.S. District Court in New Mexico.  She faced charges for possession for sale of 49 kilos of marijuana with a value of $93,120, and for possession of a firearm in the commission of the drug offense.  Instead of a 10 year mandatory prison sentence, Sara Azari was able to obtain a disposition limited to 6 months of home confinement as part of a 2-year probation term.  Elizabeth was able to work, maintain her freedom and her ability to give birth and bond with her child in the privacy of her own home.
• AIRFORCE SERGEANT ACCUSED OF ATTEMPTED RAPE OF FEMALE SENIOR AIRMANTechnical Sergeant Anthony C. was accused of attacking, assaulting and attempting to rape a female airman and was charged with violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, a federal felony military crime.  If convicted, Anthony could have served a sentence of up to 20 years and would be discharged from the military.  At the close of the trial (a military court martial) at the Edwards Airforce Base in Rosamond, California, Anthony was acquitted on all counts.
• YOUNG MAN CHARGED WiTH DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCEChris J. was charged with a DUI after allegedly being stopped for speeding.  His blood alcohol was well over the legal limit, at 0.15%.  Ultimately, the DUI charges were dismissed and Chris received a speeding infraction.
• ELECTRICAL JOURNEYMAN CHARGED WITH DRUG TRAFFICKING, SALES & DISTRIBUTION IN FEDERAL COURTIn a 2-defendant federal case, Glen G. faced a 10 year mandatory minimum sentence after having been indicted for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and sell in Los Angeles, Philadelphia and Miami.  Through rigorous defense, Ms. Azari was able to reduce Glen's sentence to a one-year drug program.
• HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATOR CHARGED WITH FRAUDMagdalena G. was a healthcare administrator who was federally indicted for defrauding the government and receiving illegal kickbacks patient referrals.  In a multi-defendant case with a loss amount of over $12 million, Ms. Azari's exceptional negotiation skills led to the dismissal of the charges in lieu of a disposition whereby Magdalena was placed on one-year of probation for a significantly lesser count of aiding and abetting in the making of false claims to a U.S. agency.  As a result of this disposition, Magdalena was able to avoid jail time, and more importantly the collateral consequences of deportation and inadmissibility to the United States.
• MAN ACCUSED OF SEXUAL CONDUCT WITH A MINORCharged with several counts of sexual conduct with two unrelated minors, G.T. faced up to 16 years in state prison.  The month long trial resulted in a not-guilty verdict on all charges.

Video:

• Hollywood 411 interviews Sara Azari regarding the case of People v. Conrad Murray and the defense of Michael Jackson's doctor., Hollywood 411- Commentary on the case of Dr. Conrad Murray (Michael Jackson's doctor), 2010

Educational Background:

• University of California, B.A., French Literature, Cum Laude, 1994