Abelardo Rodriguez

Abelardo's Background

Abelardo grew up all over the United States and Europe because of his father’s military service, but Arizona was always the place he and his family called “home.” In 2004, Abelardo made the permanent move to Arizona to attend college and he’s been here ever since. Abelardo has always enjoyed learning new things, and he has two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Art History and English from Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona, respectively.

Abelardo attended law school at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. During law school, Abelardo worked part-time as a barista and volunteered at a variety of organizations that provided free legal aid to those in need. While volunteering, Abelardo gained valuable insight as to how lawyers could give back to their communities with their legal skills, and saw the positive, real-world impact that it had on people’s lives. When Abelardo graduated law school in 2018, he received the highest pro bono distinction as a result of his volunteering.

After graduation, Abelardo wanted to continue serving the community, so he accepted a position as an attorney at the Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office. In that role, Abelardo represented low-income clients, ensured that the government honored his clients’ constitutional rights, and fought hard to get the outcomes his clients desired. As a result, Abelardo spent his first two years of law practice in a courtroom almost every day, which has made him feel comfortable and confident while advocating for his clients in front of judges and opposing counsel.

Among his clients, Abelardo is best known for his ability to communicate complex, legal concepts into easy-to-understand terms, so that his clients understand everything that is going on in their cases. Among his colleagues, judges, and opposing counsel, Abelardo is well-known for his strong, legal-writing skills that he employs to advocate for his clients.

Outside of work, Abelardo enjoys cooking, gardening, and spending quality time with his fiancé and two dogs. Abelardo also enjoys reading and doing creative things such as painting, sculpting, and visiting art museums.

Education

B.A., Northern Arizona University, 2009
B.A., University of Arizona, 2015, Magna Cum Laude
J.D., Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, 2018

Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice

State Bar of Arizona, 2019