Michael Young is a trial attorney and litigator whose practice is focused on representing survivors of sexual assault and abuse in civil actions against powerful institutions. Mike takes a strategic, evidence-driven approach to methodically building cases against even the most well-funded and influential defendants. Mike believes survivors deserve a lawyer who won’t be outmatched or intimidated and who genuinely cares about the outcome. He is committed to fierce, unwavering advocacy that secures justice for individual clients and drives systemic change within the institutions responsible for their harm.
Mike’s work in this area began as a young legal clerk prosecuting war crimes in Bosnia and Herzegovina. During that time, he witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of sexual violence and the profound difference that accountability can make for survivors. That experience shaped his commitment to this work and drives the passion he brings to every case. Sexual assault and abuse cases rarely fit neatly into a single legal category requiring fluency across multiple disciplines—healthcare regulation, educational law, civil rights, commercial litigation and more. Mike has developed that range, allowing him to pursue accountability wherever institutional failures occur. Accordingly, Mike takes a hands-on, client-centered approach to litigation. He understands that survivors of institutional abuse are trusting him with some of the most difficult experiences of their lives, and he treats that trust as a responsibility.
Obtained a settlement of $500,000 in a lawsuit filed against Utah State University over the school’s mishandling of the client’s reported sexual assault.
Representing a client in a lawsuit filed in federal court against Southwestern Oregon Community College on breach of contract and Title IX claims, Parsons’ attorneys secured a jury verdict on the breach of contract charge, resulting in an award of $1.7M in damages. The client was subject to harassment and discrimination, resulting in her discontinuing the pursuit of a nursing degree after she had disclosed previous employment experience in the adult entertainment industry.