
Bernard J. Johnsen and His Family
Professional Background
Bernard is the founder and managing attorney of Bernard Justice Johnsen Law, PLLC. He is an experienced probate and trust litigator and estate planner. Bernard is licensed to practice in Arizona and the United States District Court. He has appeared in nearly all of the Arizona Superior Courts and represents clients from all over the nation and foreign countries. He also represents and advises other attorneys and mediators.
Bernard narrows his practice to probate litigation and estate planning, so he is not a "jack of all trades and master of none.” Bernard is experienced with the nuances of the probate rules and statutes and is familiar with the Judges and Commissioners that oversee the probate court. He has a positive reputation among his colleagues.
Because Bernard litigates contested trusts and wills, he understands more than just the theory of estate planning. He has first-hand experience with what causes estate plans to fail and to be challenged in court. He incorporates this experience into his estate planning to avoid future problems for his clients.
Personal Background
Bernard originates from Northwest Indiana but has resided in Maricopa County for over twenty years. His father is a retired police officer/detective who is now a felony prosecutor in Indiana. His mother worked for the Kyrene School District for nearly 30 years. Bernard and his wife have two children that they dearly love.
While Bernard appreciates his Midwest values, he loves Arizona and considers it his home. He enjoys nothing more than spending time with his family. He takes pride in helping his kids with their schooling and sports. He and his family love to travel all over the state to see the different “seasons” Arizona has to offer. Bernard enjoys the outdoors and being physically active so he can keep up with his kids. When he can, he golfs, bowls and plays on a recreational softball team.
Bar Admissions
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Arizona
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United States District Court
Education
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Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Lansing, Michigan
Juris Doctor
Honors: Cum Laude
Honors: Top 11% of His Class
Honors: 3.49 GPA
Law Review: Thomas M. Cooley Law Review, Senior Associate Editor -
Recipient of the Board of Directors Award for Outstanding Lawyering
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Sixty Plus, Inc., Elder Law Clinic Intern
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Arizona State University
W.P. Carey School of Business
Bachelor of Science
Major: Marketing
Certificate in International Business Studies
Honors: Cum Laude
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Mesa Community College
Associate of Arts Degree
Professional Associations and Memberships
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Probate and Trust Section Member, State Bar of Arizona
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Real Property and Trust Section, American Bar Association
Pro Bono Activities
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2017 & 2018 Maricopa County StandDown Volunteer (free legal service for veterans)
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2017 & 2018 Law Day Legal Aid Clinic Volunteer
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2017 Wills For Heroes Volunteer
Professional Organizations
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Committee Member of the Boys & Girls Club of the East Valley 2018 & 2019 Gala
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Board Member of the Chandler International Film Festival 2019