Craig R. McClellan - San Diego, CA
Attorney at The McClellan Law Firm
Serious Injury or Death Lawyers in San Diego, CA
1144 State Street San Diego, CA 92101
- Free Consultation
- 1 Super Lawyers®
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50
Years
Experience
San Diego Serious Injury or Death Lawyer
Updated: 03/02/2026
Areas of Practice
- Serious Injury or Death
- Product Liability
- Insurance Claims Practices
- Business Litigation
Attorney Information
Overview
Craig McClellan has obtained 110 verdicts and settlements in excess of one million dollars each, and is a three-time recipient of the "Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award" from the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego for cases in which million and multi-million dollar verdicts were obtained. He is the first and only San Diego personal injury attorney selected for admission to the Inner Circle of Advocates, a prestigious invitation-only group of top plaintiff's attorneys, limited to 100 members nationwide. One of his final arguments is featured in Million Dollar Arguments. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, where he served as President of the San Diego Chapter. He is also a Master of the American Inns of Court, and a former Member of the Board of Directors of the San Diego Chapter of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers. Craig has the distinction of being voted by his peers as one of the Best Lawyers in America, as well as a top 50 "Super Lawyer" for San Diego. He has appeared on public radio and television programs, including 60 Minutes, 20/20, and the McNeil-Lehrer Report. One of his cases is featured in No Contest by Ralph Nader and Wesley J. Smith.
Craig has focused his career on complex, high stakes litigation. His cases include catastrophic personal injury and product liability cases as well as business and intellectual property litigation. He began his practice of law with Luce Forward Hamilton & Scripps, eventually starting his own firm, now known as The McClellan Law Firm. He was a Captain in the United States Marine Corps and graduated from California Western School of Law.
Awards and Honors
Honors
- Best Lawyers, Lawyer Of The Year, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs, San Diego, 2014
- Best Lawyers, Lawyer Of The Year, Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs, San Diego, 2014
- Three-time Recipient of the Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award Winner, Consumer Attorneys of San Diego
- Selected as one of The Best Lawyers in America
- Profiled in American Lawyer Magazine
- Selected as one of Lawdragon's Top 500 Plaintiff's Lawyers in the Country
- Named to Southern California Superlawyers, Top 50 in San Diego
- Named one of the Best Attorneys in the Los Angeles Area by the Los Angeles Times
- Recipient of the Daniel T. Broderick III Award for “Civility, Integrity and Professionalism”
Other Sources of Feedback About Craig R. McClellan
Included on the 2026 San Diego Super Lawyers list
Past Lists
- 2025 San Diego Super Lawyers list
- 2024 San Diego Super Lawyers list
- 2023 San Diego Super Lawyers list
- 2022 San Diego Super Lawyers list
- 2021 San Diego Super Lawyers list
- 2020 San Diego Super Lawyers list
- 2019 San Diego Super Lawyers list
- 2018 San Diego Super Lawyers list
- 2017 San Diego Super Lawyers list
- 2016 San Diego Super Lawyers list
- 2015 San Diego Super Lawyers list
- 2014 Southern California Super Lawyers list
- 2013 San Diego Super Lawyers list
- 2012 San Diego Super Lawyers list
- 2011 San Diego Super Lawyers list
- 2010 San Diego Super Lawyers list
- 2009 San Diego Super Lawyers list
- 2008 San Diego Super Lawyers list
- 2007 San Diego Super Lawyers list
Education
-
Legal Education
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California Western School of Law,
San Diego,
California, 1976
J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence
Honors: magna cum laude
Honors: Editor-in-Chief, California Western Law Review
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California Western School of Law,
San Diego,
California, 1976
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Non Legal Education
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University of Oregon,
Eugene,
Oregon, 1969
B.S., Bachelor of Science
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University of Oregon,
Eugene,
Oregon, 1969
Past Positions
- Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps, Partner, 1976 - 1986
- Oil Policy Subcommittee Cost of Living Council, Executive Office of the President, Washington, D.C., Director, 1972 - 1973
- United States Marine Corps, Captain, 1969 - 1972
Published Works
Articles
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Physicians' Liability: The Sale and Insertion of A Dalkon Shield, 11 California Western Law Review 347, 1975
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Garrison v. Porsche, Professional Techniques Library, Million Dollar Arguments, 1983
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The Honda ATC and Other Dangerous All-Terrain Vehicles, Trial Bar News, San Diego Trial Lawyers Association, May, 1985
Bar Admissions
- California
- U.S. District Court Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court Central District of California
- U.S. District Court Southern District of California
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of California
- U.S. Supreme Court
Other Affiliations
- American Association for Justice (Sustaining Member)
- American Board of Trial Advocates (Member, Board of Directors (1983 - 1990))
- American College of Trial Lawyers (Fellow)
- American Inns of Court, William B. Enright Chapter (Master)
- Association of Business Trial Lawyers (Member, Board of Directors (2005 - 2007))
- Attorneys Information Exchange Group (Member)
- Consumer Attorneys of California (Sustaining Member, Board of Directors (1985 -1987))
- Consumer Attorneys of San Diego (Member, Board of Directors (1983 -1990), Officer (1987 -1988))
- Inner Circle of Advocates (Member)
- State Bar of California (Member)
- American Society of Legal Advocates
Photo
Contact
1144 State Street
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619) 215-1488
Fax: 619-544-0540
Email: Send a message
-
http://www.mcclellanlaw.com
(The McClellan Law Firm)
- http://www.mcclellanlaw.com/Blog.aspx (Blog)
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