A Champion for Justice

Courtney Burris is the founder of The Law Office of Courtney Burris, an Oakland-based law practice representing clients in criminal defense, civil rights, personal injury, restraining-order proceedings, asset forfeiture matters, and select civil litigation.

Before entering private practice, Courtney spent nearly 12 years as a prosecutor, serving for nearly a decade with the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office before continuing her prosecutorial career with the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office. Over the course of nearly 13 years of courtroom experience, she has handled matters ranging from misdemeanor proceedings to serious and complex felony prosecutions and has tried dozens of cases before juries.

Courtney’s years as a prosecutor shaped an approach to law grounded in two principles that continue to define her practice: accountability and fairness. As a prosecutor, she was entrusted with advocating for victims and protecting public safety while also respecting the constitutional rights and due-process protections afforded to the accused. Today, that perspective informs her work on behalf of individuals facing the power of government, people whose civil rights have been violated, and clients confronting other consequential legal disputes.

Her courtroom experience also includes work on significant and complex legal issues. Courtney argued People v. Humphrey, a landmark California bail case that ultimately reached the California Supreme Court and helped reshape the constitutional framework governing pretrial detention and a defendant’s ability to pay bail. Her career has also included the prosecution of serious violent offenses, domestic-violence matters, stalking cases, and other cases requiring extensive investigation, witness preparation, evidentiary analysis, and courtroom advocacy.

Courtney’s commitment to advocacy extends beyond the courtroom. She has trained and worked with professionals addressing domestic violence and victim services, including participating in a U.S. Department of State program in Albania focused on strengthening services for survivors of domestic violence. She also served on the Board of Directors of Legal Assistance for the Elderly and as Vice President of the Charles Houston Bar Association.

Education and mentorship have likewise been an important part of her professional life. Courtney has served as an instructor in criminal justice at City College of San Francisco and has participated as a moot-court judge at the University of San Francisco School of Law for many years, helping future attorneys develop their legal analysis and oral advocacy skills.

Raised in a family with a strong commitment to civil rights and public service, Courtney developed an early appreciation for the ability of lawyers to protect individual rights and make institutions more accountable. That foundation has carried through each stage of her career—from prosecution and victim advocacy to civil-rights litigation and the establishment of her own law practice.

Through The Law Office of Courtney Burris, she now brings that breadth of experience directly to her clients. Her approach emphasizes careful preparation, candid communication, thoughtful legal analysis, and individualized representation. Whether a client is facing criminal accusations, seeking accountability for a violation of constitutional rights, pursuing compensation for an injury, protecting property, or navigating another difficult legal proceeding, Courtney believes clients deserve an attorney who understands both the legal stakes and the human consequences of the case.

Justice requires both accountability and fairness. That principle has guided Courtney throughout her career and remains at the center of her practice today.