He graduated magna cum laude from Claremont McKenna College in 1977 with a degree in political science. He graduated with a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1980, and worked as a defense attorney for several years in San Francisco with the firm of Gordon & Rees.
He graduated magna cum laude from Claremont McKenna College with a political science degree in 1977. In 1980, he obtained a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law and practiced law as a defense attorney for several years at Gordon & Rees in San Francisco.