College Student Criminal Defense Attorney
Shan’s professional and personal background gives him a unique understanding of academic institutions and the criminal justice system. A former federal prosecutor in Washington, D.C. who is now a nationally-known CNN Legal Analyst, he is at home in D.C. Courts and very familiar with the Washington, D.C. law enforcement agencies, especially the Metropolitan Police Department.
As the child of immigrants who worked as university professors, Shan grew up in a university environment. He understands the mindset of academic institutions and serves on the Board of Trustees for Sarah Lawrence College.
Shan served as a federal prosecutor in the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia for over ten years. During his tenure there, U.S. Attorney Eric H. Holder, Jr. appointed him to supervisory positions in the Misdemeanor Trial Section and also in a police corruption task force. His outstanding legal work in the government was recognized through numerous Special Achievement Awards from the Justice Department as well as awards conveyed by law enforcement agencies and community groups.
Shan’s supervisory experience in the misdemeanor crime section is invaluable to his student clients and their families. The criminal misdemeanor section of the United States Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C. handles most college student cases. His understanding of charging decisions and how judges view these cases helps him protect the academic and professional futures of his student clients.
From 1999-2000, Shan served as Counsel to Attorney General Janet Reno, advising her on criminal and civil investigations, E-Gov, E-Commerce (electronic signatures, internet gambling, internet telephony, privacy & public access issues in electronic court filings), congressional oversight, and legislative review. His responsibilities included serving as liaison to the FBI, DEA, Criminal Division, Executive Office of United States Attorneys, National Institute of Justice, and White House Counsel’s Office.
After leaving the government, Shan turned his sights to the private sector. One of the first cases at the firm was a student defense case. He was fascinated by the case and the strangely under-served population that made up these accused students: whether the student was the first in their family to go to college or the child of two doctors, the students were all equally at sea when it came to navigating their problems within their university.
Shan decided to found his own firm, DC Student Defense, to help students nationwide with both disciplinary and criminal accusations.
In addition to his private practice, Shan has also joined a few high-profile defense cases. These cases led Shan to begin his appearances on CNN, NPR, podcasts, and other streaming news media.
Now as a legal analyst, Shan offers insightful and edgy analysis on issues including charging anti-Asian attacks as hate crimes, the Trump impeachments and trials, the Mueller-Russian probe, sex crimes, and politics inside the Department of Justice. He enjoys breaking down complex legal and political current events for a wide audience. Using many of the skills he refined during his time at Sarah Lawrence, Shan also works to offer legal and political analysis through his writing. His work has appeared in CNN Opinions, The Washington Post, The Hill, xoJane, and The Daily Beast.
Shan serves on the D.C. Bar Association’s Hearing Committee of the Board on Professional Responsibility and is a past president of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association for the Greater Washington, D.C. area. He is a 1988 graduate of Georgetown University Law Center, where he graduated Order of the Barristers, edited two law reviews, and was Co-Director of the Moot Court Program. He holds a B.A. in English Literature from Vassar College as well as a Master’s Degree in Creative Writing from Sarah Lawrence College. Following law school, he clerked for the late Hon. Jerry Buchmeyer, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, and the late Eugene Wright, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He is admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia and Connecticut.
EDUCATION
- Georgetown Law School, J.D
- Sarah Lawrence College, M.F.A. in Creative Writing
- Vassar College, B.A. in English literature
MEMBERSHIPS & ACCOLADES
- Executive Board Member of the Assistant United States Attorneys Association of the District of Columbia
- Asian Pacific American Bar Association
