Nicole G. Saperstein
Associate Attorney
Education:
University of San Diego School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, 2010)
Sierra Nevada College (B.A. Psychology, summa cum laude, 2007)
For five years, Nicole worked as a Trial Attorney for Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc. where she represented approximately 700 clients charged with federal criminal offenses. Nicole primarily defended drug importation, drug conspiracy, illegal reentry, alien smuggling, child pornography, and supervised release violation cases. She has conducted seven federal trials, litigated motions, and successfully obtained probationary and time-served sentences in numerous cases initially charged as 10-year mandatory minimums. She also wrote and argued an appellate brief before the 9th Circuit in which error was found in admitting expert testimony. She has attended extensive trial skills training including the National Criminal Defense College in Macon, the Trial Skills Academy in San Diego, and new Federal Defender Training in Santa Fe.
Nicole has performed contract work for other attorneys on numerous Criminal Justice Act (CJA) and state criminal cases following her time at Federal Defenders. In 2021, Nicole passed the Nevada state bar and became a member of both the trial and appellate CJA Panels for the District of Nevada, handling federal court-appointed cases, including a double homicide. She also represented clients in Nevada state court for namely DUIs, domestic battery, and sex offense cases.
Prior to joining Bobbitt, Pinckard, & Fields II, Nicole worked for the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program where she worked at the restraining order clinics at the downtown courthouse and the North County Family Justice Center. Nicole helped victims of domestic abuse, elder abuse, and civil harassment obtain restraining orders, prepared victims for evidentiary hearing, and provided in-court representation in family and civil court for the more complex cases.
During law school, Nicole completed five internships with the San Diego County Office of the Primary Public Defender. She worked in the profile homicide unit, felony unit, and central misdemeanor unit. Nicole was recognized by the County of San Diego for her outstanding work with the Public Defender’s Office when she was awarded Intern of the Month. Nicole was able to second-chair three trials including a 36-count attempt murder, rape, torture trial, an 11-count arson trial, and a petty theft with a prior trial. She represented numerous clients on the record at felony arraignment, preliminary hearings, plea hearings, and sentencing. Nicole was able to get a case dismissed at preliminary hearing after showing cause for a stop was fabricated on her cross-examination.
Nicole attended the University of San Diego School of Law where she graduated in the top 3% of her class, magna cum laude, Order of the Coif. She earned numerous graduation awards including the Criminal Clinic Defense award, two CALI awards for earning the highest grades in Scientific Evidence and Professional Responsibility, and a pro bono service award. She was also a competing member of the USD National Mock Trial Team, employed by USD as a 1L Criminal Law learning assistant, and a member of the Phi Delta Phi Honors Legal Fraternity.
Nicole graduated summa cum laude from Sierra Nevada College where she was nominated for Valedictorian and received both the Psychology and Humanities Department’s graduation awards. She was honored in Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities.
Nicole is also a YTT-200 certified yoga instructor and has taught at numerous studios throughout San Diego. In her free time, she enjoys being in nature, hiking, and snowboarding.