Mark Milstead, Attorney at Law (Click for larger photo)

Mark has been practicing divorce law in California since 1994. He attended San Jose State University, where he majored in history, and then he went on to law school at New College of California, a progressive law school in San Francisco that is the oldest public interest law school in the country. Mark decided to attend New College because of it's commitment to training lawyers who are interested in helping others, and working for the public good. He also liked the small class sizes at New College, and the fact that he could continue to work and attend school at the same time, since it was relatively close to where his martial arts business was located. Mark graduated from law school in May of 1994, and then took and passed the grueling California state bar exam on his first attempt. He has been in private practice since then, first practicing law in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he grew up, and now practicing in Los Angeles County, after recently relocating to the Southland, where he concentrates mainly on divorce-related cases.

The law is a second career for Mark. His first career was as the owner and head instructor of a martial arts school in San Jose, California. Mark originally bought his karate instructor's martial arts school from him when he was 22 years old, and he taught self-defense at his school to men, women, and children for over 13 years after that, continuing to teach through his first year in law school, when he finally closed the school so he could concentrate on his law studies. His teaching experiences trained him to simplify complex ideas so that they are easy for anyone to understand. This is a valuable asset for a lawyer to have, since convincing judges and juries that his client's position is the right one is a big part of the job. Teaching karate to his students in thousands of individual and group classes over the years also made Mark very comfortable with public speaking, which is another important skill for an attorney to possess when he spends a lot of time in court fighting for his clients' rights.

Mark was also successful in the ring as a kick-boxer. He was undefeated in full-contact knockout fights, and fought all over California and in Nevada as a main or semi-main event fighter, earning the title of California State Light-heavyweight Champion. He once fought on ESPN television, and in his last fight before he retired from the ring, he beat Dennis Alexio, who later went on to become a world champion kick-boxer. Mark fought hard in the ring as a kick-boxer, and he fights hard for his clients as a lawyer, both in and out of court.

In his spare time, Mark enjoys spending time with his young son Robby, exercising, playing tennis and golf, watching sports, reading history, biographies, mysteries, and just about anything else he can get his hands on, going to the movies, and dining out.