Doug Hansen is a veteran federal litigator whose career has been shaped by service, community, and a lifelong commitment to standing up for people facing powerful systems.

Doug grew up in southwest Missouri in a small farming community with a large Hispanic population. From an early age, he witnessed the real-world consequences of poverty, racial profiling, and lack of access to effective legal representation. Many of Doug’s closest friends growing up, and still today, are members of the Hispanic community. Competing on a predominantly Hispanic soccer team gave Doug early insight into immigrant culture, resilience, and the importance of advocacy grounded in respect and trust. Those experiences left a lasting impression and continue to drive his passion in immigration law.

After high school, Doug accepted a full scholarship to Central Methodist University, where he studied English and distinguished himself as a student leader and athlete. He served as varsity soccer team captain, president of his fraternity, and a three-time national qualifier in track. At graduation, he was recognized as the overall graduating student who best exemplified the ideals of the university.

After graduating as the top English student and with honors, Doug became a teacher and soccer coach, earning statewide recognition in 2007 as a Missouri Outstanding Beginning Teacher—an experience that reinforced his commitment to mentorship, preparation, and public service.

Doug earned his Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law, where he was a member of the First Amendment Law Review, competed in mock trial, studied internationally, made the Dean’s List, and served as the Chief Justice for the Phi Alpha Delta legal organization.

Following law school, he returned to Missouri and began his legal career as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney with the Greene County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in Springfield, Missouri, quickly establishing himself as a capable and disciplined trial attorney.

In 2013, Doug commissioned as an officer in the United States Air Force, serving for ten years as a military officer and attorney. He was competitively selected to serve as both a military defense counsel and later as a senior military prosecutor. In 2018, Doug joined the Air Force Reserve.

As a civilian, he also served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, where he handled federal white-collar, immigration, drug, and firearm legal matters.

In the latter part of his military career, Doug served as a TRIALS instructor, which is an elite group of military trial attorneys responsible for training junior litigators worldwide.

For his litigation success and leadership, the United States Air Force awarded Doug the United States Air Reserve Component Attorney of the Year. During his career, Doug consistently ranked among the top of his peers, he earned several Commendation Service Medals and Meritorious Service Medals, he advised hundreds of military commanders on complex legal issues, and he led teams to deliver legal services to over 100,000 military members during worldwide military operations.

Doug has litigated some of the most complex criminal trials and administrative hearings across the United States, Europe, and the Pacific. His legal practice provided him with extensive experience in federal criminal law, immigration law, administrative law, federal employment matters, and complex litigation strategy. He has also been a small business owner for several years and regularly assists nonprofit organizations with formation, governance, and growth.

Doug holds a Master of Business Administration from UCLA and earned his LL.M. in Business Law from the University of California, Berkeley. While at Berkeley, he studied international and comparative legal issues alongside students and faculty from many of the world’s leading law schools, further deepening his global perspective on law, governance, and institutional power.

Doug is an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and remains deeply involved in his community. He is a graduate of the Springfield Leadership Class and was honored as Springfield, Missouri Man of the Year in recognition of his professional accomplishments and community engagement.

After 15 years of legal practice, Doug has developed a reputation for thorough preparation, disciplined advocacy, and principled representation. He brings that same approach to every client, particularly those facing life-altering immigration consequences. He firmly believes that careful preparation and a willingness to stand firm can change lives.

Doug is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Missouri, the Supreme Court of Texas, the Supreme Court of California, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.