Alison Bernstein

Alison Bernstein serves as a Lecturer at the School of Law, University of California, Berkeley, leveraging over twenty years of criminal defense expertise. She represents capital cases at the Office of the State Public Defender while actively shaping criminal justice policy through legislative advocacy.

Her educational foundation includes:

• J.D. from Hastings College of the Law
• B.A. from Wesleyan University

Ms. Bernstein's professional focus centers on systemic criminal justice reform, capital punishment litigation, and police accountability. Her hands-on experience spans mitigation investigation, trial advocacy in cases from DUI to homicide, and post-conviction capital appeals, informing her critical perspective on legal system inequities.

She holds significant governance roles including Board of Governors membership with California Attorneys for Criminal Justice (specializing in legislative reform) and service as both former chair and current commissioner of the Berkeley Police Review Commission.