In Memoriam:
Joseph C. George, Ph.D., J.D.
A Leading Advocate for Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse
On April 22, 2020, the world lost a fierce advocate who dedicated his life to helping survivors of childhood sexual abuse find their strength to reclaim their voice and their power to hold child abusers and child abuse enablers accountable for their horrendous actions. While Dr. George (who insisted that everyone call him Joe) is no longer physically with us, his championing spirit is felt and honored every day at Joseph George Jr. Law Corporation.
Joe was both a licensed psychologist and licensed attorney. After completing an internship in clinical psychology, he served his country in the United States Air Force. As a psychologist, Joe was assigned to the David Grant Medical Center, Travis Air Force Base, in California.
While at Travis, Joe earned his law degree, graduating from McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific, in Sacramento, California, in 1985. Joe was a comment staff writer and assistant editor for the Pacific Law Journal at McGeorge and authored an article proposing a mandatory reporting law for incidents of psychotherapist-patient sex. Subsequently, after earning his law degree and fulfilling his obligation to the United States Air Force, Joe served as a member of the California Senate Task Force on Psychotherapist-Patient Sexual Relationships, and authored Civil Code 43.93, which imposes liability on psychotherapists for sexual contact with a current patient and with a former patient for up to two years following termination of the psychotherapist-patient relationship.
Joe was known for his honest, straightforward, and practical approach to legal problems. As shared in The Sacramento Bee:
“George had the clinical understanding and empathy for victims and the legal training to gain justice for them in courts of law.”
The heartfelt words shared by survivors following Joe’s passing illuminate the deep impact Joe had:
“I lost my best friend. Even after the case, I shared everything with him”
“I felt like he was part of my family”
“I didn’t have the courage to stand up for myself until I met Joe”
Joe leaves the firm in the capable hands of his son, and law partner of 17 years, Joseph C. George, Jr., who is confident that “the man whose quiet legacy changed trajectories will continue to do so now that he is gone.”
“Onward and upward” – Joe George, Ph.D.
Areas of Practice
- 100% child sexual abuse
Litigation Percentage
- 100% of practice devoted to litigation
Certified Legal Specialties
- Clinical Psychologist, California, License No. PSY 7480
- Attorney and Counselor at Law, California License No. 119231
- American Board of Psychological Specialties, American College of Forensic Examiners, 1999
Bar Admissions
- California, 1985
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of California
Education
- McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific, Sacramento, California
- Juris Doctor - June, 1985
- Law Journal: Pacific Law Journal, Assistant Editor, 1984 - 1985
- Law Journal: Pacific Law Journal, Comment Staff, 1984
- Peabody College, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
- Ph.D. - December, 1980
- Major: Clinical Psychology
- Peabody College, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
- M.S. - May, 1978
- Major: Clinical Psychology
- La Salle College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- B.A. - 1973
- Major: Psychology
Published Works
- Psychotherapist-Patient Sexual Relations: A New Statutory Cause of Action, (Co-Author with J. Miller), California Trial Lawyers Association Forum 127-129, XVIII (3), 1988
- Measuring Psychological Damages, (Co-Author with J. Goodwin), California Trial Lawyers Association Forum 130-131, XVI (4), 1986
- Introduction to Neuropsychology, (Co-Author with A.E. Brooker), California Trial Lawyers Association Forum 56-59, XVI (2), 1986
- Hedlund Paranoia, Journal of Clinical Psychology 291-294, 41 , 1985
- Psychotherapist-Patient Sex: A Proposal for a Mandatory Reporting Law, Pacific Law Journal 431-459, 16, 1985
- Conceptualizations of Mental Health, (Co-Author with A.E. Brooker), Psychological Reports 329-330, 55, 1984
- Visual Recognition Memory of Severely Head-Injured Patients, (Co-Author with A.E. Brooker), Perceptual and Motor Skills 249-253, 59, 1984
- Openness-to-Experience and Mental Health, (Co-Author with B.I. Tittler), Psychological Reports 651-654, 54, 1984
Classes/Seminars
- Seminar Presenter, Law and Ethics Update, Psycho-Legal Associates, Marina del Rey, California, April 29, 2010
- Seminar Presenter, Law and Ethics Update, Psycho-Legal Associates, Sacramento, California, October 2, 2009
- Seminar Presenter, Law and Ethics Update, Psycho-Legal Associates, Sacramento, California, November 7, 2008
- Seminar Presenter, Law and Ethics Update, Psycho-Legal Associates, Woodland Hills, California, October 3, 2008
- Seminar Presenter, Law and Ethics Update, Psycho-Legal Associates, Sacramento, California, November 30, 2007
- Seminar Presenter, Law and Ethics for Mental Health Practitioners, Psycho-Legal Associates, Sacramento, California, August 3, 2007
- Seminar Presenter, Expert Assessment & Testimony in Cases Involving Injuries to Survivors of Clergy Sexual Abuse, American College of Forensic Examiners, Phoenix, Arizona, October 9, 2003
- Seminar Presenter, Professional Boundaries â“ Navigating Gray Areas & Avoiding Legal Trouble, American Psychiatric Association, San Francisco, CA, May 2, 2003
- Seminar Presenter, Law and Ethics for Mental Health, University of California, Davis, University Extension, Sacramento, California, February 18, 2000
- Seminar Presenter, Law and Ethics for Mental Health, University of California, Davis, University Extension, Sacramento, California, May 12, 2000
- Seminar Presenter, Law and Ethics for Mental Health, University of California, Davis, University Extension, Sacramento, California, September 21, 2001
- Seminar Presenter, Law and Ethics for Mental Health, University of California, Davis, University Extension, Sacramento, California, January 25, 2002
- Seminar Presenter, Law and Ethics for Mental Health, University of California, Davis, University Extension, Sacramento, California, October 4, 2002
- Seminar Presenter, Law and Ethics for Mental Health, University of California, Davis, University Extension, Sacramento, California, January 31, 2003
- Seminar Presenter, Law and Ethics for Mental Health Practitioners, Sacramento Valley Psychological Association, Forensic Division, Sacramento, California, November 22, 2002
- Speaker, Protecting Yourself Against Malpractice, Friends for Survival, Inc., Sacramento, California, November 13, 1998
- Workshop Presenter, Current Ethical and Legal Landmines for Mental Health Practitioners, Family Services Agency, Sacramento, California, Approved C.E. Credits for Physicians, Psychologists, Social Workers, and MFCC's, 1998
- Speaker, Ethical Dilemmas for Expert Witnesses, Valley Psychological Association, Forensic Division, February 17, 1998
- Speaker, Elements of Good Practice: Promoting Quality and Managing Risks, Sacramento Valley Psychological Association, 1997
- Speaker, Expert Consultant Guidelines, Medical Board of California, Board of Psychology, 1994
- Speaker, Risk Management and Ethical Issues, Sacramento Valley Forensic Psychology Association, 1991
- Speaker, Statute of Limitation Problems In Torts of Abuse Cases, California Trial Lawyers Association Meeting, San Francisco, California, 1991
- Speaker, Malpractice, California State Psychological Association, San Francisco, California, 1990
- Speaker, Sexual Exploitation of a Court Referred Client, American College of Forensic Psychology, Las Vegas, Nevada, 1990
- Workshop Presenter, Trends in Malpractice Claims, Sacramento Valley Psychological Association, Sacramento, California, 1989
- Speaker, Civil Suit as a Remedy for Victims of Child Abuse, Fifth Annual Governor's Training Conference on Crime Victims, Costa Mesa, California, 1988
- Speaker, Malpractice, California State Psychological Association, Coronado, California, 1988
Professional Associations & Memberships
- Department of Industrial Relations, Industrial Medical Council, Qualified Medical Examiner, 1999 - 2004
- Sacramento Valley Psychological Association, Forensic Division, Treasurer, 1998 - 2000
- Sacramento County Criminal Panel, 1998 - 2002
- Sacramento County Criminal Panel, 2007 - 2008
- Anthony M. Kennedy American Inn of Court., Barrister, 1999 - 2007
- California State Assembly, Consumer Protection Committee, Witness, 1992
Past Employment Positions
- Private Practice, Sacramento, CA, Consulting Clinical and Forensic Psychologist, 1989 - 2010
- Private Practice, Vacaville, CA, Clinical Psychologist, 1985 - 1989
- David Grant Medical Center, Travis AFB, CA, Director of Training, Clinical Psychologist, 1980 - 1985
- Wright-Patterson Medical Center, AFB, Ohio, Clinical Psychology Resident, 1979 - 1980
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Division of Child Psychiatry, Clinical Psychology Practicum Student, Nashville, TN, 1977 - 1979
- University Psychological and Counseling Center Vanderbilt University, Clinical Psychology Practicum Student, Nashville, TN, 1976 - 1977
- Malcolm Grow Medical Center, Andrews AFB, Maryland, Psychiatric Technician, 1973 - 1976
- United States Air Force, Hon. Discharge, Active Duty, 1973 - 1985
- United States Air Force Reserves, Major, Retired, 1996
- Office of the United States Attorney, Civil Division, Legal Intern, 1983 - 1984
- Department of Mental Health, Office of Legal Services, Legal Intern, 1983
Pro Bono Activities
- Expert Consultant, Medical Board of California, Board of Psychology, 1987 - 2002
- Member, California State Psychological Association Ethics Committee, 1991 - 1993
- Member, California Senate Task Force on Psychotherapist and Patient Sexual Relationships, 1986
- Volunteer, Deputy District Attorney, Sacramento County, 1988
- Reviewer of Manuscripts, Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 1992 - 1993
- Instructor, Division of Forensic Psychiatry, University of California, Davis Medical Center, 1993 - 2003
- Judge Pro-Tem, Small Claims Court, Sacramento, CA, 1995 - 1997
- Medical Board of California, Board of Psychology, Oral Examiner, 1988 - 2001
To learn more about our sexual abuse attorneys in California, call the Joseph George Jr. Law Corporation, Ph.D. today at (916) 623-4914 and schedule a free consultation.
We Are the Team Who Can Help
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We value each of our clients; everyone deserves respect and clear communication. We never leave our clients in the dark.
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Attorney Joseph George Jr. is a former deputy district attorney; Attorney Maricar Pascual was the national champion in appellate advocacy.
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Collectively, our legal team has more than 30 years of experience in fighting for the rights of Californians.
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Joseph C. George earned a Ph.D. in psychology and was an active duty clinical psychologist in the United States Air Force for 12 years.