Attorney Zulu Ali, a native of Shelbyville, Tennessee, is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, who served as a sworn police officer with the City of Shelbyville, City of Lewisburg, and Vanderbilt Police Departments, respectively. Later, Attorney Ali earned a Juris Doctorate (law degree) from Trinity International University Law School and a liberal arts degree with an emphasis in African Studies from Regents College through a consortium with Tennessee State University.
Attorney Ali has been admitted to the California State Bar; United States District Courts for the districts of Central California, Southern California, Northern California, and Colorado; United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth, Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh Circuits; United States Supreme Court; and the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands.
Inspired by civil rights attorneys Charles Hamilton Houston, Thurgood Marshall, and Avon Williams, Jr., who used the law and courts as a vehicle to make change and protect all people against injustice, Attorney Ali opened the Law Offices of Zulu Ali with a focus on representing persons accused of crimes and seeking criminal justice, immigrants, victims of discrimination, and persons seeking civil justice. He has expanded his practice to include the representation of defendants, victims, and persons seeking reparations before the International Criminal Court at The Hague, Netherlands.
Attorney Ali serves as Director of the Jury Reform Initiative; American Committee for United Nations Oversight, an advocacy group lobbying the United Nations for police reform; Director of the Stop and Frisk Academy, which trains at risk youth and others to deal with police encounters; Director of the Southern California Veterans Legal Clinic, a legal clinic offering no cost and low cost legal services to military veterans; and a member of the National Conference of Black Lawyers.
Attorney Ali has been named to the Top 100 Lawyers by the prestigious National Black Lawyers-Top 100; The National Trial Lawyers – Top 100 Lawyers; Premier Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the American Academy of Trial Attorneys, also known as the National Academy of Jurisprudence; Esteemed Lawyers of America; Top 10 Attorneys for client satisfaction in criminal law, immigration law, and personal injury by the American Institute of Legal Counsel; Top 10 Attorneys in criminal defense, immigration law, and personal injury by the American Justice Institute; and named one of Rue Ratings Best Attorneys of America and was also honored by the National Action Network with the Vanguard Award as one of Los Angeles’ 100 Most Influential African Americans.
Attorney Ali resides in Southern California with his wife (Charito) of over 32 years. Their four adult children, Christine, Whitney, Ashley, and Lynda; and three grandchildren, Amayah, Tye, and Izem.
Experience
U.S. Marine
Police Officer
Appellate Lawyer
International Lawyer
Trial Lawyer
Admissions
California State Bar (All State Courts)
U.S. District Court, Central California
U.S. District Court, Southern California
U.S. District Court, Northern California
U.S. District Court, Eastern California
U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
United States Supreme Court
International Criminal Court, The Hague, Netherlands
African Court on Human Rights, Tanzania, Africa
Education
Trinity Law School, Juris Doctor
University of Phoenix, M.B.A., M.S.
University of the State of New York, A.S.
Tennessee State University, USNY degree consortium
Tennessee Law Enforcement Academy, P.O.S.T. Police Officer Certification
Memberships
(Past/Present)
American Immigration Lawyers Assoc.
American Association for Civil Justice California
Attorneys for Criminal Justice National Immigration Project
Federal Bar Association
U.S. Military Service & Awards
U.S. Marine Corps (Active Duty Veteran)
Good Conduct Medal Recipient
Meritoriuous Unit Commendation Award
National Defense Medal Recipient
AWARDS
Top 100 Lawyers by the National Black Lawyers-Top 100
Top 100 Lawyers by The National Trial Lawyers-Top 100
Premier 100 Trial Attorney by the American Academy of Trial Attorneys (National Academy of Jurisprudence)
Top 10 Lawyers by the American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys
Top 10 Best Immigration Lawyers by the American Institute of Legal Counsel
Top 10 Criminal Law, Immigration Law, and Personal Injury Attorneys by the American Jurist Institute
Top 10 Criminal Law and Immigration Law Attorneys by Attorney & Practice Magazine