Allen is a graduate of Stanford University (A.B., Class of 1971), and the University of California, Hastings College of the Law (J.D., Class of 1976).  He has worked in the area of civil law continuously since 1976.  While in law school, he was an intern with the Marin County Public Defender’s Office, and a law clerk for Melvin M. Belli in San Francisco.  He taught for two years at Hastings College of Law, as a legal writing and research instructor.  Since 2001, he has been the Small Claims Court Advisor for the San Mateo County Superior Court, and serves on the Small Claims Mediation Advisory Committee for San Mateo.  He is a past member of the Bar Association of San Francisco, the Lawyer’s Club of San Francisco, and the California Trial Lawyers’ Association.  He currently is a member of the San Mateo County Bar Association.