Shawnell Russell graduated magna cum laude from Loyola Marymount University with a degree of Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in Sociology in 2008. At LMU, Shawnell played NCAA Division I tennis and was appointed Captain during her senior year. She then attended Southwestern Law School and received her Juris Doctor in 2012. 

While in law school, Shawnell was an Associate Editor of the Southwestern Journal of International Law and a Writer for the Moot Court Honors Program. She received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award and Witkin Award for Academic Excellence for receiving the highest grade in her Legal Analysis, Writing, & Skills course. Additionally, Shawnell held various internships and externships throughout law school with the California Women’s Law Center; Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office – Appellate Unit, Habeas Corpus Litigation Team; Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office – Safe Neighborhoods & Gang Division, Citywide Nuisance Abatement Program; ACLU of Southern California; and Office of the Attorney General – Employment & Administrative Mandate Section.

After graduating from law school, Shawnell interned at Shegerian & Associates, Inc. and subsequently worked as an Associate Attorney with Lederer & Nojima, LLP, Nemecek & Cole, and Kaufman Dolowich & Voluck LLP. She has worked as Corporate Counsel at Griffin Realty Trust since April 2019.

Shawnell is admitted to practice before all California State Courts and the United States District Court for the Central District of California.