Sarah Einhorn

Misdemeanor, Felony, Domestic Violence, Drug Crimes, DUI, and Juvenile Defense
sarah.einhorn@cohendefense.com

Sarah Einhorn is a brilliant, experienced attorney, but the first thing you’ll notice about her is how much she cares.  An excellent listener, Sarah’s thoughtful approach to her cases begins with the needs and desires of her client. “I have an enormous amount of experience helping clients identify their goals and working very carefully to create opportunities for my clients to reach those goals,” she says. “From the beginning to the end, my job is to help my client understand and figure out what they want out of their case. I try really hard to put their needs in the forefront, often in a situation where they feel incredibly powerless.” 

Sarah graduated from Golden Gate University School of Law at the top of her class. She excelled in the Honors Lawyering Program, and earned numerous awards, including the Witkin Award for Criminal Procedure, a CALI Award in Criminal Law, a Public Interest Scholarship, and the Dean’s Scholarship. She was Senior Articles Editor for the Golden Gate University Law Review, on the Moot Court Board, and a participant in both the ABA Moot Court Competition Team and the Stetson National Pretrial Competition Team.

Sarah began her career as an intern with the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office, where she represented children charged with crimes. Sarah felt a particular connection to this work and continued to work with children after law school as a Deputy Public Defender for Alameda County. In their Juvenile Justice Division, Sarah managed a demanding caseload handling everything from truancy to serious felonies. Going above and beyond is nothing new to Sarah, and she took her knowledge to the community by presenting at local high schools about individual rights for students with an organization called LYRIC (Learn Your Rights in California). Sarah is committed to representing youth in the juvenile justice system and says, “I feel it is important, powerful work.”  The Cohen Defense Group is thrilled to have someone with Sarah’s experience on our Juvenile Defense Team.

In addition to her juvenile justice expertise, Sarah has years of experience defending adults as a felony trial attorney, representing countless clients throughout the legal process, from initial arraignments through preliminary hearings, jury trials, and dispositions. Sarah is particularly adept with felony cases involving drugs, guns, trafficking, and assault. She is passionate about fighting to protect her clients from unlawful police actions like unjustified searches and seizures of property and will not hesitate to litigate those issues in court. 

After years of handling large caseloads in public defense offices, Sarah brought her considerable experience to the Cohen Defense Group because she can continue to serve indigent clients while also expanding the scope of her work in private practice. She can represent people all over Northern California, instead of being limited to one jurisdiction, and she can also get involved earlier in the process and stay involved through post-conviction phases. “What I am most passionate about is protecting the rights of my clients and pursuing their individual goals, whether through aggressive litigation, or careful and nuanced negotiations. I am proud of my work as a public defender and believe that it is vital to care for our most vulnerable against the power of the government. I am excited to bring my experience in a high-volume practice to the smaller caseload of private practice. Private practice gives me the chance to offer even more holistic representation to clients, from prefiling advocacy where I can start work on a case before a charging decision is made, to post conviction advocacy where I can help my clients pursue a fresh start. I can fight for my clients every step of the way.”

David Cohen, a founding member of the Cohen Defense Group, says of Sarah, “I knew right away that Sarah Einhorn would be a powerful addition to our firm. She came with a wealth of experience from her years in the Alameda County Public Defender’s office. I would have expected a career Public Defender coming out of a major urban office to be jaded, exhausted, and full of shortcuts. Not Sarah. Despite her large caseload, Sarah demonstrated a deep understanding of each of her clients’ histories, life circumstances, challenges, and goals. It spoke volumes of her dedication and devotion to her clients. Sarah came to us energized and ready to use her considerable skills to help our Nevada and Placer County clients.” 

If you or a loved one is facing criminal charges, Sarah Einhorn is here for you. She will listen to you, she will make sure you understand the process, and she will make it her mission to help you get the result you want. 

Sarah graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of California at Santa Cruz and earned her law degree from Golden Gate University School of Law. When she’s not working, Sarah enjoys gardening, reading mystery novels, and volunteering at her kids’ school. 

Born in San Francisco and raised in Chico, Sarah became a member of the California State Bar in 2012. Education:  University of California, Santa Cruz (B.A. Modern Literary Studies, Magna Cum Laude, 2009); Golden Gate University School of Law (J.D., 2012). Member: Nevada County Bar Association; Pacific Juvenile Defender Center; California Public Defenders Association.