Melvin J. Thompson Background Information

Legal Education

Melvin J. Thompson was admitted to the practice of Law in the State of California on June 25, 1976. He graduated from the University of San Diego School of Law on May 23, 1976, with a Juris Doctor degree and during the course of his legal education was invited to write for the San Diego Law Review on the basis of a writing competition. He completed his undergraduate work at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History having also attended Mt. San Antonio Junior College in Walnut, California and East Los Angeles Junior College.

Public Service Employment

Upon graduation for law school Mr. Thompson served as a deputy in the office of the Kern County Counsel and in that capacity was assigned to sit with the Kern County Board of Zoning Adjustment, the County Planning Commission and occasionally with the Kern County Board of Supervisors.

Private Practice

Mr. Thompson entered private practice in 1978 and for many years was a partner in the Bakersfield law firm of Austin, Thompson & Sims.

Areas of Practice

Over his many years of legal practice, Mr. Thompson has handled litigation involving personal injury, medical malpractice, real property disputes, contract disputes, family law, probate cases and appelate cases. For a time Mr. Thompson represented the Kern County Assessor in assessment appeals matters involving oil and gas and natural resources. Mr. Thompson currently maintains a general civil practice with an emphasis on Estate Planning, Probate and Family Law.

Personal

Mr. Thompson is married to Kathleen P. Thompson and they are the parents of ten children(nine girls and one boy).

Mr. Thompson is an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, served as a full time missionary for 2 1/2 years in South Korea, has served as a bishop and as the stake president of the Bakersfield California South Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Mr. Thompson was previously a member of the Bakesfield South Rotary Club and served twice as the club's president in 1999-2000 and 2014-2015.