Mike Donaldson grew up in Temecula, California.  He received his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and law degree at Santa Clara University School of Law. Mike received CALI Excellence for the Future Awards in Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, and Advanced Practice Innocence Litigation while in law school. Throughout law school, Mike worked for the Santa Clara County Public Defender defending people charged with misdemeanors and felonies. After law school, Mike worked at the Merced County Public Defender and represented hundreds of clients charged with DUI.  

Mike began practicing in Riverside County in 2015, and joined Bartell, Hensel & Gressley in 2018. He is a graduate of Gerry Spence's Trial Lawyer's College, and has lectured new attorneys at the Riverside County Public Defender on DUI Defense. Mike is the President of the Southwest Riverside County Bar Association, and a part-time professor of Political Science at Mt. San Jacinto College.  

In his free time, Mike enjoys travelling with his wife, hiking with his dog, playing music, and watching sports.