Mr. Serrano is licensed by the State Bar of California and Arizona. He is a graduate of the University of California at San Diego (1974) and the University of Southern California Law School (1977). Upon graduation, Mr. Serrano was awarded a Reginald Heber Smith Fellowship through Howard University which permitted him to teach and work in the Phoenix, AZ. area. From 1978-79 Mr. Serrano was an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Arizona. From mid 1979-84 he worked as a Deputy City Attorney for the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office handling criminal prosecutions, writs and appeals and, later, in the civil liability section. In 1984 he went to work for the Escondido City Attorney's Office where he was the Assistant City Attorney managing trial and appellate matters involving civil liability, zoning, water rights and legislation. From 1990-2005 he litigated civil and criminal cases in the private practice of law. From 2005-2008 he worked for the San Diego City Attorney's office in the Real Estate Division as counsel for Airports, Qualcomm Stadium and Petco Stadium. In 2008 Mr. Serrano returned to the private practice of law.

John Serrano reads, writes and speaks Spanish. He is conversant in French and has limited American Sign language ability.