Amy Jo McGuigan joined Swanson & McNamara LLP in 2015. She is a senior paralegal with extensive experience supporting complex criminal, civil, and regulatory defense matters, including high-stakes trials and investigations.

Prior to joining the firm, Ms. McGuigan worked for the Federal Public Defender for the Northern District of California for 15 years, where she assisted in numerous federal trials, including four complex death-penalty cases, one of which resulted in an acquittal. Her experience spans all phases of litigation, from pre-trial investigation and discovery through trial and post-conviction proceedings.

Ms. McGuigan earned her paralegal certificate from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Forensics & Digital Investigations, summa cum laude, from Champlain College. She is a Certified eDiscovery Specialist (CEDS) with multiple ACEDS eDiscovery certifications, and holds additional certifications in Cellebrite Mobile Forensic Fundamentals (CMFF) and digital forensics. She has completed over 21 hours of advanced digital forensic training in FTK, and regularly works with complex electronic evidence, including mobile devices, cloud data, and forensic reports.

Ms. McGuigan’s combined litigation and technical background allows her to bridge the gap between legal strategy and digital evidence, making her a key resource in cases involving electronic discovery, forensic analysis, and technology-driven investigations.

Credentials:

Advanced Certified Paralegal- ACP

Certified e-Discovery Specialist- CEDS

California Advanced Specialist in Discovery- CAS

Board Memberships:

Chair– San Francisco Bar Association, Paralegal Section

Continuing Education Council- NALA

Past President– San Francisco Paralegal Association

Assistant Director– Women in eDiscovery, San Francisco Chapter

Ethics Board– National Federation of Paralegal Associations

Awards:

2019 recipient of the California Alliance of Paralegal Associations (CAPA) Paralegal of the Year award.

2020- National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA) National Affiliate of the Year.

Certificates:

CMFF Cellebrite Mobile Forensic Fundamentals- 2021

ACEDS eDiscovery Executive Certificate- 2021

ACEDS eDiscovery Technology Certificate- 2021

FTK BootCamp- 21 hours digital forensic training- 2020