Professor Mark T. Harris

Professor Mark T. Harris, ESQ, an active licensed member of the State Bar of California, is the Director of Pre-Law Studies at the University of California, Merced and the Managing Partner at the Law Offices of Mark T. Harris headquartered in Sacramento, California.  Further, Professor Harris is one of the founders of the Central Valley Leaders, a statewide youth leadership development academy.

Professor Harris attended the University of Southern California, where he later became a member of the adjunct faculty, prior to attending Loyola Marymount University from which he received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.  Today, Professor Harris has become a major donor of Loyola Marymount and sits on the university's African-American Alumni Board of Trustees.  Professor Harris attended and graduated from the University of California's Boalt Hall School of Law in Berkeley, California and while a student there served on the City of Berkeley's Police Review Commission.  It was during this period in Professor Harris' life that he witnessed the complexities of the relationship between law enforcement organizations and those whom they were supposed to "protect and serve."  

Professor Harris has served in many local, state and federal governmental positions as a Senior Executive for External Affairs with the State Bar of California; as Undersecretary for California's Business, Transportation and Housing Agency and as Deputy Chief of Staff at the U.S. Department of Commerce in the administration of the Honorable William (Bill) Jefferson Clinton.  Professor Harris continues to serve as an advisor to several current and former "Big City" mayors including, The Honorable Willie L. Brown, Jr.; The Honorable Elihu M. Harris, who serves as "of Counsel" to the firm; The Honorable Kevin Johnson; The Honorable  W.W. Herenton and The Honorable Ashley Swearengin.

Today, in addition to his teaching responsibilities and myriad public service commitments, Professor Harris manages the law firm on a day-to-day basis.  The firm's philosophy is to remain client-focused and in order to accomplish this, the firm has chosen to remain "selective" in its areas of practice.  Professor Harris' philosophy is it is better to be an expert in a small number of practice areas rather than mediocre in a large number.  Professor Harris has lectured on law and finance at venues throughout the world, including Latin America and Asia.  He has traveled to fifty-seven countries throughout the world.  He is married to Marianna Y. Harris, Ed.D., and proud parent of Eric M. Harris, J.D. and Martin T. Harris A.B. (in International Relations).