Jacklyn Bentley

I handle my cases personally, and after you get to know me, you can call me “Jackie” like my friends do. Usually, I am hard at work at my office, but some days you can find me in the Courtroom or busy researching.

As a young child, I always had a fascination with the law and remember telling my mother that I wanted to be an attorney before I even started kindergarten. This passion never died.

I attended undergraduate college in the small Pennsylvania town of Lancaster. Here, I was highly involved with my college both academically, in the Orchestra and Jazz Band, and as a star sprinter on the track team. Although I will not tell you during an intake interview, I still hold multiple school records for my achievements as an athlete. Some of my other accomplishments include being elected the President of the Philosophy Club, to the executive board of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Advocates organization (LGBTA), and being selected as the Section Leader of the Trombones in the Orchestra.

After graduating with a degree in Philosophy, I soon realized that it was time to pursue my dream of becoming an attorney. I picked up and moved to California to attend Santa Clara University School of Law. Here, my passion led me to become the Vice-President of the Criminal Law Society and the President of the Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Advocates group (BGLAd). I worked throughout my years at Santa Clara University to develop my talent for oral advocacy including participating in multiple competitions. I also took it upon myself to hone my negotiation skills in law school and, in so doing, won the school’s ABA Negotiation Competition.

Since graduating from Santa Clara Law, I have focused on fine tuning my powers of persuasion. I initially worked for the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office in both the Narcotics and Gang Units. This work allowed me to see the ins and outs of how prosecutors work. After this, I soon found a home at a criminal defense firm, and have never looked back. At this firm, I was the primary courtroom attorney. This work allowed me to advocate for clients every day.

Since founding the Law Office of Jacklyn Bentley, you can often find me toiling away into the late evening, in court, or on the phone with my clients from early in the morning until the doors close. I particularly enjoy discussing unique resolutions with the other side where I get to use my negotiation skills directly. I pride myself on being a fighter in and out of the courtroom, often arguing so passionately that it seems I am the client.

I have conducted multiple trials and administrative hearings. I am always hungry to get into a courtroom of any kind. I do find myself gravitating towards more challenging cases, and I love to help clients in and out of the courtroom. I also enjoy getting to know my clients beyond their cases.

The Law Office of Jacklyn Bentley proudly serves the cities of San Jose, Santa Clara, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Milpitas, Fremont, Palo Alto, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Los Altos, Cupertino, Campbell, Morgan Hill, Gilroy, Hollister, San Francisco and Oakland; as well as all of Santa Clara County, Santa Cruz County, San Benito County, Alameda County, San Mateo County, and San Francisco County, California as well as other locations throughout the State of California.

Non-Legal Activities

I have trained in Krav Maga, do various crafts, cook and bake, and enjoy spending time with family and friends.