Title: Staff Attorney of Housing
Company: Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County
Location: Santa Barbara, California, United States
Mark B. Cardona, Esq., staff attorney of housing at the Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Lawyers for dedication, achievements, and leadership in housing law.
For more than 10 years, Mr. Cardona has established an esteemed career in the legal field with a focus on housing law and helping those in need. His work as an attorney began in 2013, when he launched The Law Office of Mark B. Cardona. In this initial venture, Mr. Cardona proved his expertise in business law, commercial transactions and corporate structure, building a name for himself in the process. He particularly enjoyed collaborating with various technology companies centered on hardware and software development, where he assisted in resolving contract issues.
In 2021, while continuing to run his own firm, Mr. Cardona became the chief legal officer for Megan’s Organic Market. Megan’s Organic Market (also known as MOM) is a California-based company that started out focused on organic farming and expanded into the world of selling cannabis products. The organization emphasizes inclusivity, responsibility, and decreasing the stigma around cannabis. Mr. Cardona’s legal guidance was essential in aiding Megan’s Organic Market with navigating the complex and shifting laws around this emerging market.
Mr. Cardona left his role at Megan’s Organic Market and shut down The Law Office of Mark B. Cardona, choosing to focus his efforts toward a new position as staff attorney of housing at the Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County. His responsibilities include conducting legal research around housing and property law in the state of California, meeting with clients to learn details about their individual cases, attending court when necessary, and writing mediation resolutions and other legal documents. Mr. Cardona takes great satisfaction in putting his legal knowledge to use in the service of helping others. He considers the first case where he successfully prevented a family from losing their home to be a highlight of his career thus far, showcasing the tangible impact that legal work can have in improving people’s lives.
Prior to embarking on his professional journey, Mr. Cardona set a foundation for his future success with his education. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2009. In 2011, Mr. Cardona completed a summer program in international business with a focus on international government and policy at the Universidad del Salvador in Buenos Ares, in coordination with Southwestern Law School. Subsequently, he earned a Juris Doctor from the University of La Verne’s College of Law and Public Service in 2013.
A volunteer within his local community, Mr. Cardona was a member of the board of directors of the Santa Barbara Public Library Foundation from 2015 to 2018. He also served on the board of directors for the New Beginnings Counseling Center from 2017 to 2021, after which he accepted the position of secretary for the organization for several years. New Beginnings is a nonprofit that offers housing assistance and counseling options to low-income and homeless individuals and families in the Santa Barbara area. Mr. Cardona’s affiliation with these groups further demonstrates his commitment to uplifting others and making the world a better place.
Beyond his professional life, Mr. Cardona is a devoted husband and a loving father to two children. When he’s not working, he finds joy in hiking and playing pickleball and tennis. Looking ahead, while continuing his work with the Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County, Mr. Cardona is also writing a book on the American housing system in law and policy, and how it compares to alternatives in countries like Sweden, Canada and Germany. He hopes to publish the book in the coming years while building his expertise in the field. Mr. Cardona is also considering running for local office as a city council or county board of supervisors member. If he pursues this path, he foresees continuing on to state or national politics in the future.
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