Alonso Zavalasoto
Personal Injury and Criminal Defense Trial Lawyer
"Real growth begins when we step outside our comfort zone and are willing to take risks, to embrace our journey—darkness, light, and every part of it. Our story is what makes us a real human being capable of forming a real connection with twelve strangers to guide them to the result we want for our clients by using powerful storytelling techniques."
Alonso immigrated to this country after high school from Guadalajara, Mexico when his father found a job as a day laborer working in the fields of California.
After a few years of working hard towards his American dream, the attacks of September 11, 2001 occurred. Subsequently, Alonso enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
After the Marine Corps, Alonso earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of California Santa Barbara and earned his law degree from Thomas Jefferson School of law in San Diego.
Prior to passing the bar, Alonso worked as a criminal defense investigator at the San Diego Public Defender’s office. As an investigator, he learned the importance of effective criminal defense investigation. His diligent attention to detail proved instrumental throughout many trials including several murder cases some with the death penalty mitigation phase.
Alonso knew he had to come back as a licensed attorney and graduated from the trial program hosted at Thunderhead Ranch.
Alonso spent six years working as a felony attorney at the San Diego County Office of the Public Defender. During his six years there, he tried 52 jury trials. While other lawyers would tell him things like “just plead your client,” Alonso was able to win the un-winnable cases (including serious felony strike cases) by applying the Spence method in every trial. Alonso firmly believes that any trial lawyer willing to use these methods can connect with jurors and change the energy in the room at voir dire, opening, cross examination or closing – to make jurors see a client in a different light and to guide jurors towards a positive outcome for our clients.
Alonso now takes these skills and applies them to personal injury trials, where he focuses on traumatic brain injury cases.