About John Derrick
John Derrick is certified by The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization as a Specialist in Appellate Law — a qualification held by about one in every 900 of all California lawyers. His practice is devoted exclusively to appeals and related matters. He handles appeals throughout the state. His practice covers both civil and criminal matters, and he practices in both state and federal court.
John offers excellent analytical and writing skills, as well as outstanding academic credentials — the essential qualities of an appellate lawyer.
Education
John received his law degree from the University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law. He received his undergraduate degree in philosophy, politics and economics in Britain from the University of Oxford.
At Boalt, he received High Honors or Honors in most graded classes. He was first in his class in written appellate argument. He graduated from Oxford with First Class Honours, the highest class of undergraduate degree awarded by that university.
Affiliations
John is admitted to practice in all California state courts, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court.
State Bar and Court of Appeal appointments
John was recently appointed by the Board of Governors of the State Bar of California to serve a three-year term on the Bar’s 16-member Standing Committee on Appellate Courts. This committee reviews proposed changes to the rules of court affecting appellate courts; reviews and comments on proposed legislation affecting appellate court operation and appellate practice; initiates legislative and rules proposals in these areas; and provides continuing legal education to lawyers in the field of appellate law.
He also serves as the Editor-in-Chief of California Litigation, the journal of the Litigation Section of the State Bar. In addition, he is is an appointed member of the Second District Court of Appeal’s mediation panel.
Background
Before entering the legal profession, John founded, operated, and sold two specialized information publishing businesses in the US and UK, one of which was acquired by one of the world’s largest publishers. He combined the role of publisher and editor, making it his mission to present complex analysis and data in as readable a style as possible.
Community & personal
John and his wife moved to California in 1993. Their daughter was born in 1995, and their son in 2003.
He is an officer and a member of the board of directors of the Santa Barbara County Bar Foundation. And he has served as Treasurer and an Executive Committee member of the William L. Gordon Inn of Court, the Santa Barbara chapter of a national organization dedicated to improving the skills, professionalism, and ethics of the bench and bar. He also serves on the advisory board of the Santa Barbara Teen Legal Clinic.
In addition, he is a member of the Board of Directors of Aeromedicos, a nonprofit healthcare organization of volunteer medical personnel and pilots that flies monthly missions to remote regions of Mexico offering free medical and dental care to people with limited or no other access to care.
He has written a well-reviewed book — Boo to Billable Hours — which critically examines the prevalent method of billing for legal services and advocates alternatives.
John holds US and UK private pilot licenses and has an FAA instrument rating. He is a keen traveler, who has visited 83 countries — often reaching remote regions — and is aiming for 100.
He is also an AYSO soccer referee.
John offers excellent analytical and writing skills, as well as outstanding academic credentials — the essential qualities of an appellate lawyer.
Education
John received his law degree from the University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law. He received his undergraduate degree in philosophy, politics and economics in Britain from the University of Oxford.
At Boalt, he received High Honors or Honors in most graded classes. He was first in his class in written appellate argument. He graduated from Oxford with First Class Honours, the highest class of undergraduate degree awarded by that university.
Affiliations
John is admitted to practice in all California state courts, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court.
State Bar and Court of Appeal appointments
John was recently appointed by the Board of Governors of the State Bar of California to serve a three-year term on the Bar’s 16-member Standing Committee on Appellate Courts. This committee reviews proposed changes to the rules of court affecting appellate courts; reviews and comments on proposed legislation affecting appellate court operation and appellate practice; initiates legislative and rules proposals in these areas; and provides continuing legal education to lawyers in the field of appellate law.
He also serves as the Editor-in-Chief of California Litigation, the journal of the Litigation Section of the State Bar. In addition, he is is an appointed member of the Second District Court of Appeal’s mediation panel.
Background
Before entering the legal profession, John founded, operated, and sold two specialized information publishing businesses in the US and UK, one of which was acquired by one of the world’s largest publishers. He combined the role of publisher and editor, making it his mission to present complex analysis and data in as readable a style as possible.
Community & personal
John and his wife moved to California in 1993. Their daughter was born in 1995, and their son in 2003.
He is an officer and a member of the board of directors of the Santa Barbara County Bar Foundation. And he has served as Treasurer and an Executive Committee member of the William L. Gordon Inn of Court, the Santa Barbara chapter of a national organization dedicated to improving the skills, professionalism, and ethics of the bench and bar. He also serves on the advisory board of the Santa Barbara Teen Legal Clinic.
In addition, he is a member of the Board of Directors of Aeromedicos, a nonprofit healthcare organization of volunteer medical personnel and pilots that flies monthly missions to remote regions of Mexico offering free medical and dental care to people with limited or no other access to care.
He has written a well-reviewed book — Boo to Billable Hours — which critically examines the prevalent method of billing for legal services and advocates alternatives.
John holds US and UK private pilot licenses and has an FAA instrument rating. He is a keen traveler, who has visited 83 countries — often reaching remote regions — and is aiming for 100.
He is also an AYSO soccer referee.
