Benjamin S Reccius

Benjamin S. Reccius, Esq. was born and raised in Los Angeles, California where he currently lives and practices.

Benjamin has a Bachelor of Arts in Biological Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley, and earned his Juris Doctor and Certificates in Dispute Resolution and Criminal Law Practice from Pepperdine University School of Law where he was a member of its elite trial team and an ABA National Trial Competition Finalist. Valuing the practical over the theoretical has always been Benjamin's M.O.; throughout law school, he worked at the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles where he helped defeat some of Los Angeles' worst slumlords and international human traffickers as well as represent clients at Section 8 housing termination hearings. After LAFLA, Benjamin began work at a Los Angeles County Public Defender where he wrote numerous motions in defense of the office’s indigent clients and utilized Proposition 36 to re-sentence prisoners serving 25 years to life on non-violent felonies. A skilled investigator, orator, and writer, it's Benjamin's toughness and tireless enthusiasm that sets him apart from other lawyers.

Before founding Reccius Law, Benjamin was an associate at a prominent criminal defense and medicinal cannabis business law firm in Los Angeles (Shevin Law Group) where he defended countless individuals and businesses on felony marijuana-related charges and zoning violations related to commercial cannabis activity. An actual boot on the ground in the war on marijuana, Mr. Reccius gained an intimate knowledge of the cannabis industry as well as the black market for cannabis before and after California's Proposition 64 and the dual(state and local) licensing for commercial cannabis businesses (effective January 1, 2018)[SB 94 (The Medical and Adult Use of Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act or "MAUCRSA")]. Aside from his core specialties of cannabis business law and criminal defense, Benjamin has a broad legal skill-set that includes housing litigation (eviction, relocation, habitability, ADA litigation), business law, contracts, asset forfeiture, criminal restitution, and alternative dispute resolution including arbitration and mediation.

RECENT RESULTS

Cannabis Business

-Application for Cannabis Business License approved pending official City of Lynwood press release

Criminal Defense

-Felony Manufacturing Controlled Substance (Health & Safety Code § 11379.6) dismissed following preliminary hearing 

-$64,000 criminal restitution request brought by District Attorney denied and ordered at $0

RESUME

EDUCATION  Pepperdine University School of Law                                                                                   May 2015

Juris Doctor, Certificate in Dispute Resolution, & Certificate in Criminal Legal Practice           

Awards:       ABA Labor and Employment Law Trial Competition, Regional Finalist                                                                   Pepperdine Law Closing Argument Competition, Finalist

Activities:    Trial Team, Member; Closing Argument Competition, Judge; Moot Court Competition,                                       Participant, Advocates for Public Interest Law; Student Ambassador Program; 1L Mentor Program  

University of California, Berkeley                                                                                           May 2008

Bachelor of Arts, Biological Psychology, manga cum laude  

Awards:        The Daily Californian Annual Editorial Contest, Winner

Activities: The Berkeley Political Review, Writer and Staff Member   WORK EXPERIENCE Reccius Law                                            General Partner/Founder                                                         

Advise investors and cannabis experts on business structure, operations and compliance with state and local law regarding commercial and medical cannabis activity • Specially appear on criminal matters and provide “of counsel” support including motion work and investigation Shevin Law Group                              Law Clerk & Associate Attorney    Feb. 2015 - Aug. 2017

-Appeared on arraignments, pre-trials and trial readiness conferences in misdemeanor and felony matters

-Drafted and argued motions to suppress evidence, return property, terminate probation and dismiss counts --Conducted preliminary hearings and investigated legal and factual matters in preparation for settlement discussions and trial

-Advised clients on compliance with local and state law pertaining to commercial cannabis activity, and drafted compliance sections for permit applications by working with city officials and consulting city ordinances and procedural rules

-Managed corporate division by forming entities, managing and executing required filings and drafting vital company documents including operating agreements and bylaws   

Public Defender of Los Angeles County     Law Clerk, Airport Court& PIAS Jun 2014 - Dec 2014

-Drafted motions in support of suppressing evidence, reducing counts, dismissing cases and retesting DNA in serious felony matters including gross vehicular manslaughter and first-degree murder

-Advocated for the early release of prisoners given life sentences based on non-violent, non-serious felony offenses 

California Academy of Mediation Professionals (CAMP) & Center for Conflict Resolution (CCR)

-Mediate Superior Court disputes between parties in unlawful detainer and civil harassment matters

Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles           Law Clerk Unit/Impact Litigation Unit         June 2013 - Dec. 2013

Reviewed complex litigation and discovery for evidence supporting motions, objections and deposition preparation

-Represented clients at informal termination hearings at the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles

 Public Counsel                             Law Clerk                  mmer 2011

-Drafted memoranda regarding nuisance and zoning issues for the Early Childhood Development Project      

  Benjamin Reccius Tutoring                             Founder and Tutor                                     Jan. 2007 - Oct. 2012

-Founded private tutoring business and built a client base of over 40 students including on-set academic tutoring for child actors on shows such as Two and a Half Men and Shameless