About John Derrick

Education

John Derrick 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 also received several awards, including ones for being first in his class in written appellate argument and tort law. He graduated from Oxford with First Class Honours, the highest class of undergraduate degree awarded by that university.

Practice & Affiliations

John Derrick’s law practice focuses almost exclusively on state-wide appeals and writs. He is a member of the Council of Appellate Lawyers. He is admitted to practice in all California state courts, the United States District Courts for the Central, Northern, Southern, and Eastern Districts of California, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. He is a member of the Council of Appellate Lawyers.

Background

Before entering the legal profession, John founded, operated, and sold two “boutique” information publishing companies 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.

He previously served as Special Adviser to the Energy Secretary in the British Cabinet, focusing on the political presentation of the government’s energy policy, and, in 1987, as a campaign “ghostwriter” for the British Prime Minister. He has recently written an acclaimed book — Boo to Billable Hours — that critically examines the prevalent method of billing for legal services and advocates alternatives.

Community & Personal

John and his wife moved to California in 1993. Their daughter was born in 1995, and their son in 2003.

John serves on the board 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 also serves on the advisory board of the Santa Barbara Teen Legal Clinic.

He recently completed a term 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.

John holds US and UK private pilot licenses and has an FAA instrument rating. He is a keen traveler, who has visited 81 countries – often reaching remote regions – and is aiming for 100.