Mr. Allen graduated from Brigham Young University Law School in 1996, where he served on the editorial board of the BYU Law Review, and as student body president. Mr. Allen also earned a masters degree at BYU in Public Policy, and while securing his education, interned with Senator Orrin Hatch in Salt Lake City and Washington, D.C., the Japanese Government in Tokyo, Japan, and the U.S. Army JAG corps.

After law school Mr. Allen served a judicial clerkship for Hon. Michael Murphy on the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He then worked in a large corporate law firm in Salt Lake for several years, gaining a broad background in complex business law and litigation. His practice in Cedar City encompasses several fields, including trials and appeals, business litigation, criminal defense, personal injury, wrongful death, medical malpractice, and product liability.

Mr. Allen served as a judge pro-temp for the Third Judicial District Small Claims Court in Salt Lake City. He has also served as an adjunct faculty member of the BYU Law School.

Mr. Allen has significant trial experience. He has tried numerous civil cases, including serving on the plaintiff's trial team in a case in which a 4 million dollar verdict was secured on behalf of a doctor who had been defamed by a television station. He has tried several major criminal jury trials, including cases involving first-degree felony charges of murder, rape, and arson. He currently is the trial lawyer for the firm's public defender contract with Beaver County, assigned to try all felony cases.

Mr. Allen has an active Utah as well as California bar membership, and has handled several large business, wrongful death, and medical malpractice cases to successful conclusions in California.

Mr. Allen grew up in La Crescenta, California, where he was the student body president of his high school, and an Eagle Scout.

He is an accomplished pianist, having earned his way through college playing in bars and restaurants, and now serves as the organist for his church congregation. He also plays guitar, violin, and harmonica, and he composes music as well. He speaks fluent Japanese, having lived in Japan for two and a half years. He and his wife have three children.