RPLG enthusiastically announces that Jamal Anderson, a former deputy district attorney for San Mateo County, has joined Renne Public Law Group as a Senior Associate. Jamal brings years of both courtroom and policy experience to the firm. He will be working with the litigation, investigations and police reform teams.
Senior Associate Jamal Anderson.
“Few people know more about what it means to work with law enforcement agencies than district attorneys,” said Founding Partner Jon Holtzman. “Jamal brings a key voice of experience to our police reform practice group, another seasoned voice to the trial team and a fair and impartial voice to our investigations team. I look forward to seeing how he brings together his time in D.C., political experience and prosecutorial expertise to advance the interests of our public agency and public interest clients.”
Jamal started his career in public service in Washington, D.C., where he attended Howard University and worked for Representatives Nancy Pelosi, Gwen Moore and Jackie Speier. He began working in local government during his time in D.C., serving as a special assistant and policy analyst to Mayor Adrian Fenty before assuming an expanded role as the Mayor’s Federal Affairs Advisor. In that role, Jamal represented the District’s interests before Congress and other federal entities, coordinating the District’s federal appropriations requests and legislative agenda. After pursuing a master’s degree in government from Johns Hopkins University, Jamal returned to San Francisco to obtain a law degree with the intention of becoming a district attorney.
“After my time in D.C., I wanted to return home and serve the community where I grew up,” said Jamal. “I am a true believer when it comes to the ability of the government to make positive change. District attorneys have a unique opportunity to help people and to shape our justice system.”
In 2013 he received his J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law – where he served as President of the Student Bar Association – and began working in the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office in 2014. As a Deputy District Attorney for six years, Jamal handled a variety of assignments, trying nearly two dozen cases to verdict before a jury. After several years, seeing the national conversations around racial justice and policing intensify, he saw an opportunity to use his skills and experience to assist with police and criminal justice reform.
“District attorneys are well-positioned to contribute to police reform efforts,” said Jamal. “I’ve reviewed thousands of reports from law enforcement and spent a lot of time with police officers, which helped me learn how they approach their job. I hope to bring my experience from my time with San Mateo County to the table to help the RPLG police reform group promote collaborative solutions.”
Outside his professional work, Jamal has been involved with various community organizations in the Bay Area. He was a Big Brother with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area for four years. From 2017-2019, he was on the board of New Leaders Council – San Francisco, a non-profit that provides training for diverse emerging leaders to promote progressive change. Jamal currently coaches a mock trial team for high school students at South San Francisco Unified High School.
“I am very much looking forward to continuing my career in public service at a firm that shares my values,” said Jamal. “RPLG believes in the power of local government to effect change and has a track record of commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. This is an exciting opportunity to leverage my experience in politics and as a district attorney to pursue the public interest.”
RPLG practices throughout California, advising and advocating for public agencies, nonprofit entities, individuals and private entities in need of effective, responsive and creative legal solutions.
