Jonah Chew, Esq.
5 Star Reviews
“From January 2012 to May 2015 I had been fighting an incredibly serious case in which (up until September 2014) could have put me in prison for my ENTIRE LIFE without the possibility of parole. My case was one for the textbooks, a wrongful accusation of a heinous and violent crime that I had nothing to do with, simply in the wrong place, at the wrong time, with the wrong person. I am a UC Berkeley Graduate and ordained pastor whose integrity and freedom was put on trial (literally) for many years. Over this three and a half year process,”
Ray A.
“Let me say. I never write reviews, like I mean never. I always promised I would and then I forget. Well this time, ITS DIFFERENT. Jonah chew is the truth. A relate-able guy with a knack at making you feel comfortable about your situation. BUT not in a sleazy lawyer kind of a way. In a, "look man, this sucks and I'm gonna fight for you kind of a way" Let me get straight to the point. ”
Mack G.
“Okay so I was charged with some serious charges. Charges that could of put me in jail for for a longtime, I was faced with 8 different charges all were felonies. I knew that some of the charges were just bogus and didn't even pertain to me so I wanted to fight it and I didn't trust no public defender to represent me. I started to research for a lawyer, one that won't cost me an arm and leg.”
JP M.
“Jonah is one of the best, if not THE BEST attorneys out there. He knows the law like the back of his hand and has a great reputation in the legal community. Everybody loves him and that's because he's ethical, straight to the point, and gets the best result for all of his clients. We've worked together on many cases and our clients could not be happier.”
Givelle L., Criminal Defense Attorney
“I endorse this lawyer without any reservations. It is amazing that I continue to learn from him every day from his responses on Avvo even though I have been licensed for 24 years and have served as a judge, magistrate, law professor, prosecutor, and private attorney. You can not afford not to hire him.”
Christopher L., Mediation Attorney
“To me, Jonah represents a standard that all in our practice should pursue. He is detail oriented, knowledgeable on the law and all aspects of his case (and if you need him, your case too). Simply stated, Jonah is a true asset to this profession and more importantly his clients in his relentless pursuit of justice for them. I unequivocally endorse Jonah Chew.”
D.L. R., Personal Injury Attorney
What Makes Attorney Jonah Chew Uniquely Qualified To Represent You?
Jonah Chew has more than two decades of experience in the courtroom, earning a reputation as one of San Francisco’s most aggressive and effective criminal litigators. His work and expertise in a wide range of criminal cases has earned him media coverage in numerous Bay Area publications. After receiving his Juris Doctorate from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 1998 and being admitted to the California State Bar the same year, he started a private criminal practice. Three years later, he was hired at the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office, considered among the best public defender offices in the nation. It was there that Jonah sharpened his skills as a top-notchtrial attorney, representing thousands of clients, writing and arguing hundreds of motions and successfully defending people in cases ranging from simple drug possession to serious felonies. Whether he is defending clients in federal court or in state court, Jonah is a trial attorney who consistently obtains outstanding results. He is aggressive and negotiates the best deals for his clients and guides them towards treatment and rehabilitation when necessary. He is an expert in dealing with complex criminal issues and assists his clients in navigating through the intricacies of the legal system.
Total Years of experience: Over 23 Years
Chew Law Offices, which opened in 2006, has formed deep ties to the community. Jonah volunteers with non-profit organizations throughout the Bay Area, including the Asian American Criminal Trial Lawyers Association (where he was a Founding Board Member), Bar Association of San Francisco, Filipino Bar Association of Northern California and the Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area. Jonah takes pride in not only his courtroom advocacy skills, but also his willingness to advocate for the needs of the community.
Sample of Media Coverage
SF Weekly – ‘S.F. Medical Pot Growers Smoked District Attorney’
SF Weekly – ‘White Separatists’ Alleged Attackers Enter Their Pleas’
KQED – ‘Update on San Francisco Police Department Video Scandal: Total of 57 Cases Dropped’
Case Results
Jonah’s track record for getting not guilty verdicts and negotiating favorable plea agreements, has saved countless clients from prison, restored their job and educational opportunities and afforded their families the opportunity to move forward. We invite you to read a small sample of some of our success stories here.
Bar Admissions:
Licensed to practice in California. State Bar Number 197530, Admitted December 1998.
Education:
- University of San Francisco School of Law
- Juris Doctor, May 1998 (Activities: Asian Pacific American Law Student Association, member)
- University of California at San Diego
- Bachelor of Arts, Psychology, June 1994
Professional Associations:
- Three Best Rated® – Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in San Francisco (2020 – 2021)
- Super Lawyers (award designation by Thomson Reuters) (June 2019)
- Minority Bar Exchange Criminal attorney representative (January 2015-present)
- Asian American Criminal Trial Lawyer’s Association, Founding Executive Board Member and Treasurer (January 2014 – Present)
- San Mateo Bar Association, Member (2015-Present)
- Bar Association of San Francisco Indigent Defense Panel, Member (2006 – Present)
- Asian American Bar Association, Member (1999 – Present)
- California Public Defenders Association, Member (1999 – Present)
- California DUI Lawyers Association, Member (2006 – Present)
Presentations And Speaking Engagements:
- CEB Seminar “Defending Your Misdemeanor Client”, San Francisco, 2003
- NAPABA Seminar “Dynamic Cross Examination”, Scottsdale, Arizona, November 2014
- USF School of Law, Intensive Advocacy Program: faculty, May 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019
- NAPABA Seminar “How to Do It All When You’re a Solo or Small Firm”, San Diego, CA November 2016
- AACTLA Seminar “Race in the Jury Box”, University of San Francisco, CA, January 2018
Other Legal Experience:
Asian Pacific Islander Joint Bar Association Judiciary Coalition of Northern California
Representative for AACTLA, May 2014-present and Executive Committee member since September 2017
- Participated in a coalition of eight API bar associations to build diversity in the legal profession, particularly the judiciary. Screened and interviewed State and Federal judicial candidates, wrote endorsement letters for certain candidates, communicated with the Governor’s Judicial Appointments Unit, drafted press releases, compiled and maintained data on sitting judges and judicial candidates.
“From January 2012 to May 2015 I had been fighting an incredibly serious case in which (up until September 2014) could have put me in prison for my ENTIRE LIFE without the possibility of parole. My case was one for the textbooks, a wrongful accusation of a heinous and violent crime that I had nothing to do with, simply in the wrong place, at the wrong time, with the wrong person. I am a UC Berkeley Graduate and ordained pastor whose integrity and freedom was put on trial (literally) for many years. Over this three and a half year process,”
Ray A.
“Let me say. I never write reviews, like I mean never. I always promised I would and then I forget. Well this time, ITS DIFFERENT. Jonah chew is the truth. A relate-able guy with a knack at making you feel comfortable about your situation. BUT not in a sleazy lawyer kind of a way. In a, "look man, this sucks and I'm gonna fight for you kind of a way" Let me get straight to the point. ”
Mack G.
“Okay so I was charged with some serious charges. Charges that could of put me in jail for for a longtime, I was faced with 8 different charges all were felonies. I knew that some of the charges were just bogus and didn't even pertain to me so I wanted to fight it and I didn't trust no public defender to represent me. I started to research for a lawyer, one that won't cost me an arm and leg.”
JP M.
“Jonah is one of the best, if not THE BEST attorneys out there. He knows the law like the back of his hand and has a great reputation in the legal community. Everybody loves him and that's because he's ethical, straight to the point, and gets the best result for all of his clients. We've worked together on many cases and our clients could not be happier.”
Givelle L., Criminal Defense Attorney
“I endorse this lawyer without any reservations. It is amazing that I continue to learn from him every day from his responses on Avvo even though I have been licensed for 24 years and have served as a judge, magistrate, law professor, prosecutor, and private attorney. You can not afford not to hire him.”
Christopher L., Mediation Attorney
“To me, Jonah represents a standard that all in our practice should pursue. He is detail oriented, knowledgeable on the law and all aspects of his case (and if you need him, your case too). Simply stated, Jonah is a true asset to this profession and more importantly his clients in his relentless pursuit of justice for them. I unequivocally endorse Jonah Chew.”
D.L. R., Personal Injury Attorney
