Attorney Christopher M. O’Neal is Chief Integration Officer at Ben Crump Law, where he ensures that infrastructure in each office and practice area of the firm are coherent and congruent, internally and externally, by integrating effectively with other bodies: individual, corporate, or statutory. Attorney O’Neal also brings a unique perspective to the firm’s civil rights practice, having served a decade as a sworn officer with the Gainesville (Florida) Police Department, where he worked in patrol, special investigations, recruiting, and training.
Attorney O’Neal earned his juris doctor with honors from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2004 and received his bachelor’s degree from Florida State University in 1992. Attorney O’Neal’s interest in social issues began early. While attending Florida State University, he was a member of the Student Senate and served on the executive board of the Black Student Union. While in law school at the University of Florida, he served as president of the Black Law Students Association and as executive director of the National Black Law Students Association. In addition, while in law school he was selected to participate in summer courses in legal dispute resolution, commercial law, maritime law, and human rights law at the University of Cape Town in South Africa.
With the Gainesville Police Department, he earned several commendations and awards for his service including one Police Star, three Awards of Excellence, and one Outstanding Unit Citation. As a training officer, he was selected as a subject-matter expert by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for participate in developing test questions for the Law Enforcement State Certification Exam. While serving as the Department’s Cadet Coordinator, he led minority candidates on the path to college and law enforcement careers.
Attorney O’Neal’s legal career includes time with Scruggs & Carmichael of Gainesville, Florida, the State Attorney’s Office in the 8th Judicial Circuit of Florida, associate with Parks & Crump, LLC, and as a solo practitioner. Each opportunity in his entire career has strengthened his commitment to seeking justice on behalf of the marginalized, which he seeks to maximize through his work with Ben Crump Law.
Memberships
- Inspector General, The Seventh District of The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
- Member/ Past Vice Basileus, The Chi Omega Chapter of The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. Member, National Bar Association
- Member, American Bar Association
- Member, American Association for Justice
- Member, Florida Bar Association
- Member, Florida Justice Association
- Prior Secretary, The Florida Association of Hostage Negotiators
- Prior Member/Consultant, University of Florida Criminal Law Association
- Prior Member, The American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers
