Misdemeanors, Marijuana, Drug Crimes, Theft Crimes
megan.shaw@cohendefense.com
Megan Shaw’s skill as a defense attorney is built on her interdisciplinary background in sociology, forensic psychology, and law. Highly educated, Megan earned her bachelor’s degree with honors in sociology with a minor in criminal justice from Gonzaga University, her master’s in forensic psychology from Argosy University, and her law degree with a certificate in elder and health law from the McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific.
Though Megan initially thought about being a lawyer when she was in college, she began her career journey in social work. Guided by a desire to help people through hard times, she learned a tremendous amount but ultimately was frustrated by the sometimes-dehumanizing nature of the work. A chance viewing of the documentary The Innocence Files during the pandemic reignited her interest in law as an avenue to helping people facing challenging circumstances and eventually solidified her calling. “I said, alright, defense is where it’s at. I’m supposed to be a defense attorney.”
Megan’s lived experience with an invisible disability makes her especially attuned to the variety of challenges her clients might face and drives her toward inclusivity. As someone who has navigated disability and public assistance, she is intentional about treating every client with dignity, addressing them respectfully, and taking time to listen. “A lot of people just need to be heard. I think it makes people much more willing to work with me.”
What Megan finds most rewarding in criminal defense work is the immediate impact her advocacy can have on people’s lives. “The time I spend working for my client can keep them from going into custody, which then has a waterfall effect,” she explained. Helping clients avoid jail time can preserve their jobs, housing, and benefits. “It is about mitigating consequences so that people can move forward in a positive way. Few people deserve to have the book thrown at them.”
Megan is particularly drawn to diversionary programs that offer treatment and a clean slate, as well as cases where careful negotiation can reduce lasting penalties. “It can be just one bad day that sends someone down a path that’s extremely hard to get off of,” she said. “Everybody deserves a chance.”
According to colleague Amber Zehrung, “Megan is always willing and eager to take on the fight to protect her client’s rights. She listens to her clients and makes communication a priority, accommodating their schedules to make sure they have time to connect. Megan’s goal is to give her clients all the information in their cases so that they can make an informed decision when the time is right. Megan is very detailed in everything she does. She has a great relationship with court staff and an impeccable presence in the courtroom.”
Megan brings a high level of technical skills from her past career running a web development and business consulting firm. This is especially helpful in an era of digital discovery, where very little information comes via paper anymore. She finds it second nature to use technology to streamline her work, though she still appreciates the “old school” value of pen and paper.
Megan credits her mentors at McGeorge’s Elder Law Clinic with teaching her how to slow down, explain things simply, and give clients the patience they need. She also credits her mother, “still one of my best friends,” for her unfailing support through Megan’s challenges over the years.
In her down time, Megan enjoys reading crime thrillers, which is not surprising given her master’s degree in forensic psychology (she describes it as “more Criminal Minds than CSI.”) She also spends a lot of time exploring the richly diverse Bay Area with her partner and slowly making her way through the HBO show Game of Thrones. She plays dog mom to Indy, a small rescue she adopted from the family of a late district attorney. “I’ve decided that Indy’s name is short for indictment,” she said with a laugh.
With her unique background and deep empathy, Megan approaches each case with respect and a commitment to giving every client their best shot at a second chance.
Born and raised in the East Bay Area, Megan became a member of the California State Bar in 2025. Education: Gonzaga University (B.A. Sociology Cum Laude, Minor in Criminal Justice, 2008); Argosy University (M.A. Forensic Psychology, 2012); University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law (J.D., 2024). Member: Placer County Bar Association, Criminal Section; Disability Inclusivity Bar Association of Sacramento (DIBAS), Founding Director; SacLegal (Sacramento’s LGBTQ+ Bar Association); Sacramento County Bar Association; Deaf and Hard of Hearing Bar Association; California Public Defenders Association.