Advocate Morgan D Ross

I am a results oriented attorney who focuses on my client's needs, efficiency, and creative problem solving to ensure the best possible outcome for each and every client. Originally from a small town near the Adirondack Park in upstate New York, I spent the majority of my childhood on the family farm and honing my teamwork and leadership skills via football, track, and alpine ski racing. While attending college at St. Lawrence University I also played rugby while earning my B.A. in government, with minors in both education studies and global studies. I then attended law school in San Diego at California Western School of Law where I earned my law degree in two years. Upon graduation and passage of the bar on the first attempt I was hired by the Dependency Legal Group of San Diego (DLG) where I worked as a court appointed defense attorney in the child welfare system for five years. I decided to leave that post and strike out on my own to pursue my own goals of running my own law firm and bringing my blend of staunch advocacy, trial skills, and creative problem solving to the greater San Diego and Southern California communities. In my free time I enjoy golf, socializing, friendly competition, and hiking; in fact, I hike each morning at four a.m. in order to start my day off on the right foot. I also spend my time teaching SAT & ACT preparation courses for local high school students as well as tutoring for various A.P. classes. Additionally, I have a passion for competing in physique contests, and recently did well enough to qualify for and then participate in the WBFF World Championships in Las Vegas in August 2015. I discovered my passion for fitness through my own weight loss journey, losing about 120lbs between winter 2013 and winter 2015. I channel this passion into helping others face obstacles in their lives that they view as impossible or daunting. It is this determination to change and be absolutely successful in each and every endeavor that I engage in that makes me an effective advocate for my clients. I truly enjoy helping others, despise seeing a person being taken advantage of, and will utilize every ounce of my determination and legal skills to assist my clients in achieving their goals. During my time at DLG, I was fortunate to be the recipient of multiple accolades. Firstly, in 2011 I received the 'Most Creative Closing Argument' award, bestowed on the individual in the firm of over 50 trial attorneys with the most creative summation at trial. The case involved a client with a mental health issue and the closing focused on the County expert’s prejudicial view of individuals with mental health problems. Secondly, I was one of the trial attorneys on the case of Tracy J. V. Superior Court (2012) 202 1415. The trial court ruled against my client and the father and we sought review from the Court of Appeal. The California Court of Appeal reversed the trial court ruling and held that the parents, who were developmentally disabled, did not receive reasonable family reunification services and that 'harm to a child cannot be presumed from the mere fact a parent is developmentally disabled'. This case has been cited over 60 times by the California Court of Appeals in subsequent decisions. Lastly, in 2014 I was the recipient of the 'Outstanding Attorney Award' for the primary parent office which is awarded for outstanding legal service and job performance at the DLG throughout the year.