Law Office of Dr. Alex Yufik

Call: 800-810-5743

About Dr. Alex Yufik

Dr. Alex Yufik is a licensed clinical psychologist (PSY19520) and a licensed attorney (247353) . He is an expert source on a variety of clinical and forensic topics, and has given numerous trainings and interviews to local and national news organizations, including KCAL9, Washington Post, New York Post and others. Dr. Yufik is described as a bright, energetic and professional, as well as quite engaging. He is able to develop an almost instantaneous rapport with jurors during court testimony, and to speak about difficult topics in a straightforward and respectful manner and in a language that jurors can grasp and understand. His academic work has been published in the American Journal of Forensic Psychology, and his legal work has been written about in While Innocents Slept, a book by Adrian Havill. (You can read about the book by clicking here) Dr. Yufik’s warm, engaging personality and down-to- earth advice makes him a popular radio interview guest and he has appeared on the Shrink Rap Radio program with Dr. Phyllis Chase. He has also been featured on NPR  (you can listen to his interview by clicking here), and on News Talk 680 (you can listen to Dr. Yufik here) Dr. Yufik is a frequently invited speaker to local and national organizations and will speak at this year’s (2007) American Bar Association Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs as well as at the National Association of Bar Counsel meeting (February 2008)  held in Los Angeles. He recently spoke at the California Society for Healthcare Attorneys 2009 Fall Seminar on professional diversion programs and attorney discipline.

Dr. Alex Yufik received his education on the east coast. He completed a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in the study of psychology at the University of Massachusetts, at Amherst graduating after three years with honors as a Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude. Dr. Yufik proceeded to obtain his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree at the Villanova University School of Law in Pennsylvania. During this time, Dr. Yufik represented juvenile defendants at the Philadelphia Public Defender’s Office and volunteered at the Women Against Abuse Legal Project, where he helped battered and abused women obtain restraining orders and counseling services. He then began his legal practice as a criminal defense attorney with Barry Helfand & Associates, one of the most prestigious firms in Maryland. There, he worked on a number of very high profile cases, including the Ruthann Aron case (to read more about this case click here) and the Garrett Wilson SIDS murder case. (You can read more about this case from Court TV Crime Library by clicking here.)

While practicing law, Dr. Yufik completed his Doctor of Psychology degree (Psy.D.) in clinical psychology from George Washington University, in Washington D.C. He also held externships at the District of Columbia Superior Court Child Guidance Clinic and at the Springfield Hospital Center, a locked forensic treatment unit. After earning his doctoral degree, Dr. Yufik came to California and finished his training residency at the Metropolitan State Hospital in Norwalk, California, a locked forensic hospital. He then completed his post-doctoral training at Pacific Clinics AB34 forensic program and at the Sharper Future treatment center, where he worked with high risk sex offenders.

Currently, Dr. Yufik is employed by the State Bar of California as a Case Management Supervisor at the Lawyers Assistance Program, where he provides expert testimony to the State Bar Court and Office of Chief Trial Counsel regarding attorneys who face disciplinary proceedings and have substance abuse and/or mental health problems.  He supervises other clinicians in the program and conducts psychological evaluations of attorneys who require monitored recovery and treatment from substance abuse and/or mental illness. He has taught numerous courses as an adjunct professor at California State University of Los Angeles in the Criminal Justice Department and the School of Social Work.  He is credentialed by the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology, which is an indication of professional competence beyond the threshold qualifications of state licensure. He is also a panelist on the California Forensic Assessment Project, and conducts forensic evaluations for the California Conditional Release Program. Dr. Yufik also serves as an expert for the California Board of Psychology, and provides expert evaluations of cases in which psychologists have been accused of unprofessional conduct.

Dr. Yufik focuses in providing individual treatment to patients in his private practice, and utilizes the latest diagnostic psychological and neuropsychological testing.  After his years of ongoing study and practice, he specializes in both psychodynamic psychotherapy and cognitive-behavioral techniques. Psychodynamic therapy examines the personality at depth, considering how interpersonal patterns learned in the past may limit the individual's present life experience. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) uses systematic, goal-oriented techniques to restructure the client’s unwanted habits of thinking, feeling and doing. Dr. Yufik regularly works with clients struggling with a broad range of emotional difficulties, including depression, anxiety, panic attacks, drug and alcohol problems, stress, anger problems, PTSD, career difficulties and relationship problems. He offers both individual psychotherapy and couples therapy for adults and seniors.

Dr. Yufik also provides wide ranging forensic services, in both criminal and civil areas of the law. He offers individualized consultations and expert testimony regarding criminal responsibility, competency, risk assessment, sex offender evaluations, bail reduction hearings and sentencing recommendations. (For more information, please click on the Forensic Services link) He can also conduct personal injury evaluations as well as competency to make medical decisions and capacity to make a will. In addition, he provides immigration hardship evaluations as well as helping to establish waivers to deportation, exclusion or asylum.

Dr. Yufik also provides representation in criminal law matters and professional responsibility. His criminal defense representation includes white-collar crimes, drug-related crimes, domestic violence, violent crimes, and sexual crimes.  Dr. Yufik also provides criminal record expungement services for both misdemeanor and felony cases. In addition, Dr. Yufik specializes in defending licensed professionals who may be facing criminal charges which impact licensure status.

As a psychologist I am uniquely trained in the latest psychological science and techniques of jury selection and persuasion, evidence presentation, plea negotiations and sentencing recommendations. Unlike other lawyers, as a psychologist I am uniquely trained in the latest psychological science and techniques of jury selection and persuasion, evidence presentation, plea negotiations and sentencing recommendations. 

1.      Unlike other lawyers, I have particular knowledge of psychological defenses, eyewitness identification procedures, police interrogation tactics, and sex offender procedures which I will use in defending your case.

2.      Unlike large impersonal firms, I provide personalized service to all my clients, by focusing on your individual needs as well as the preservation of your reputation, career and community status.

3.      Unlike other firms which may delegate responsibility, I personally handle all aspects of your case and will personally respond to all your questions or concerns.

4.      I strongly believe in giving great value to my clients and so I always bill by the task and not by the hour, resulting in substantial savings for you.

5.      Unlike many other firms who may devote their practice to many different areas of the law, my firm focuses exclusively on defending people accused of crimes and representing licensed professionals who may be facing criminal charges which impact licensure status.

6.      Unlike other firms, every effort is made in order to make your experience with my firm a very positive one. No detail is overlooked, and all files are handled promptly and professionally.