Sarah E. Powell

Sarah E. Powell is a founding partner of Bullard & Powell, APC, where she represents clients in both criminal defense and personal injury matters. With a practice focused on advocacy, litigation, and the individual needs of her clients, Sarah brings a combination of courtroom experience, legal research, and genuine personal connection to every case she handles.

In her criminal defense practice, Sarah represents clients facing a wide range of charges, from DUI and other misdemeanor offenses to serious felony matters, including vehicular manslaughter and grand theft. She enjoys the challenges of criminal defense and, in particular, the ability to think on her feet, develop creative strategies, and advocate for her clients in court. In 2024, Sarah graduated from the prestigious Trial Lawyers College, an intensive trial advocacy program dedicated to developing the skills necessary to become a more effective trial lawyer.

Sarah also leads the firm's civil personal injury practice, representing individuals and families in cases ranging from motor vehicle collisions to wrongful death. She particularly enjoys the litigation side of personal injury practice, including law and motion and complex legal research. Whether handling a criminal defense matter or a personal injury case, Sarah believes that effective representation begins with understanding the person behind the case. She takes the time to get to know her clients, understand what matters most to them, and develop a legal strategy tailored to their individual circumstances.

Sarah's path to becoming an attorney began with her love of American history. Although she considers herself an Ohio native, she grew up in several states, including Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and California. While in high school, Sarah developed a fascination with American history and became interested in the law after learning about the many attorneys who played influential roles in the founding and development of the United States.

She earned her bachelor's degree in History from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she was also a member of the school's Division I softball team. Before becoming an attorney, Sarah was a competitive fastpitch softball player. She played primarily catcher and the corners, competed on a travel team in tournaments throughout the East Coast, and even played internationally. Her years as a competitive athlete helped develop the discipline, preparation, teamwork, and perseverance that continue to influence her approach to practicing law.

After graduating from UCSB, Sarah attended Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego on an academic scholarship. It was there that she met her future law partner and husband, Jeff Bullard. The two attended law school together and married two years after graduation. Today, they work together at Bullard & Powell and are the parents of two daughters.


Throughout her career, Sarah has remained active in the legal community. She has served on the Board of Directors of both the San Bernardino Bar Association and the San Bernardino Legal Aid Society. She has been active in the Criminal Law Section of the San Bernardino County Bar Association and was selected to serve as a chairperson. Sarah has received the President's Award from the State Bar of California and was recognized by the San Bernardino Legal Aid Society for her work.

Sarah has also been recognized throughout her career as a Rising Star, Super Lawyer and Best Lawyer in the areas of criminal defense and plaintiff personal injury and holds an AV Preeminent Rating with Martindale-Hubbell.

These days, much of Sarah’s free time is spent coaching her two daughters’ softball teams and cheering them on from the sidelines. She enjoys cooking, reading, and making the most of time with the people she loves.

For Sarah, practicing law is about more than knowing the law. It is about knowing her clients, understanding what is important to them, and providing thoughtful, determined advocacy when they need it most.