MARIA ZHURNALOVA-JUPPUNOV
MARIA ZHURNALOVA-JUPPUNOV
Associate
Pleasant Hill
Maria Zhurnalova-Juppunov obtained her Bachelor Degree in Political Science from the America University in Bulgaria in 1999. In 2007, she graduated as a Doctor of Juridical Science in Comparative Constitutional Law (summa cum laude). She then returned to the American University in Bulgarian as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Political Science Department teaching courses on comparative constitutional law and international law. Ms. Zhurnalova-Juppunov obtained her Juris Doctor degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 2017. Before joining the McNamara law Firm in 2019, she worked for two years as a legal research assistant in the Law and Motion Department of the San Francisco Superior court.
Her practice focuses primarily on civil litigation including medical malpractice defense, personal injury, premises liability, and the representation of public entities. She is a member of the State Bar of California, admitted to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California.
EDUCATION
University of San Francisco School of Law, San Francisco, CA
Juris Doctor, Magna Cum Laude, 2017
Central European University, Budapest, Hungary
Doctor of Juridical Science in Comparative Constitutional Law, summa cum laude, 2007
Central European University, Budapest, Hungary
Master of Laws in Comparative Constitutional Law, with Merit, 2000
American University in Bulgaria, Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Relations and Minor in Philosophy, 1999
ADMISSIONS
State Bar of California
United States District Court, Eastern District of California
McNamara, Ambacher, Wheeler, Hirsig & Gray, Associate 2019 – present
Legal Research Assistant to the Honorable Judge Harold Kahn Sep. 2017 — Aug. 2019
San Francisco Superior Court, Law and Motion Department
- Prepare bench memoranda on motions before the court and make written and oral recommendations for resolutions of issues before the court, assist in ex parte hearings.
Judicial Extern for the Honorable Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakayue Spring 2017
Supreme Court of California
- Reviewed conference memoranda, researched case law for draft calendar memoranda and reviews of calendar memoranda, participated in post oral argument discussions.
Legal Intern at Center on Reproductive Rights and Justice Summer 2016
University of California at Berkeley School of Law
- Researched case law, statutes and regulations on reproductive freedom.
Research Assistant to Prof. Steven Shatz Summer 2015
University of San Francisco School of Law
- Researched cases and materials on death penalty law in the US.
Contra Costa DA office:
Prosecutors Academy May 2015
- Attended lectures on and did exercises in opening and closing statements; direct and cross examination.
American University in Bulgaria, Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria Aug. 2006 to Dec. 2008
Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Political Science Department
- Taught the following courses: International Law and Organization; Comparative Constitutional Law; Protection of Human Rights in the Council of Europe; European Law.
- Organized and managed my own work and developed two new courses for the department.
- Evaluated student graduate thesis.
Fides Interconsult 00D, Sofia, Bulgaria March. 2003 to Feb. 2010
Legal Translator
- Translated contracts, court decisions and other legal documents from English into Bulgarian and vice versa.
Bulgarian Lawyers for Human Rights, Sofia, Bulgaria Jan. 2001 to Dec. 2002
Legal researcher
- Researched and systematized the case law of the European Court of Human Rights.
Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, Sofia, Bulgaria Aug. 2000 to Feb. 2001
Legal Assistant
- Researched the case law of the European Court of Human Rights.
Wrote two applications to the European Court of Human Rights: alleged violation of freedom of speech and religion, and alleged violation of the right to property.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
CONTRA COSTA BAR ASSOCIATION
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS/PUBLICATIONS
Publications
Religious Displays at Public Schools: Courts, Crucifixes and Masters of Identities, 18 MAASTRICHT JOURNAL OF EUROPEAN AND COMPARATIVE LAW 479 (2011).
Koh Kozo ouctcpumunupa (Who Discriminates Against Whom) LEGAL WORLD MAGAZINE, Issue 9, Sept. 2006.
Experience
McNamara, Ambacher, Wheeler, Hirsig & Gray, Associate 2019 – present
Legal Research Assistant to the Honorable Judge Harold Kahn Sep. 2017 — Aug. 2019
San Francisco Superior Court, Law and Motion Department
- Prepare bench memoranda on motions before the court and make written and oral recommendations for resolutions of issues before the court, assist in ex parte hearings.
Judicial Extern for the Honorable Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakayue Spring 2017
Supreme Court of California
- Reviewed conference memoranda, researched case law for draft calendar memoranda and reviews of calendar memoranda, participated in post oral argument discussions.
Legal Intern at Center on Reproductive Rights and Justice Summer 2016
University of California at Berkeley School of Law
- Researched case law, statutes and regulations on reproductive freedom.
Research Assistant to Prof. Steven Shatz Summer 2015
University of San Francisco School of Law
- Researched cases and materials on death penalty law in the US.
Contra Costa DA office:
Prosecutors Academy May 2015
- Attended lectures on and did exercises in opening and closing statements; direct and cross examination.
American University in Bulgaria, Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria Aug. 2006 to Dec. 2008
Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Political Science Department
- Taught the following courses: International Law and Organization; Comparative Constitutional Law; Protection of Human Rights in the Council of Europe; European Law.
- Organized and managed my own work and developed two new courses for the department.
- Evaluated student graduate thesis.
Fides Interconsult 00D, Sofia, Bulgaria March. 2003 to Feb. 2010
Legal Translator
- Translated contracts, court decisions and other legal documents from English into Bulgarian and vice versa.
Bulgarian Lawyers for Human Rights, Sofia, Bulgaria Jan. 2001 to Dec. 2002
Legal researcher
- Researched and systematized the case law of the European Court of Human Rights.
Bulgarian Helsinki Committee, Sofia, Bulgaria Aug. 2000 to Feb. 2001
Legal Assistant
- Researched the case law of the European Court of Human Rights.
Wrote two applications to the European Court of Human Rights: alleged violation of freedom of speech and religion, and alleged violation of the right to property.
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
CONTRA COSTA BAR ASSOCIATION
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS/PUBLICATIONS
Publications
Religious Displays at Public Schools: Courts, Crucifixes and Masters of Identities, 18 MAASTRICHT JOURNAL OF EUROPEAN AND COMPARATIVE LAW 479 (2011).
Koh Kozo ouctcpumunupa (Who Discriminates Against Whom) LEGAL WORLD MAGAZINE, Issue 9, Sept. 2006.
