David L. Shain graduated from the State University of New York at Albany in 1974 with a degree in political science. Following graduation, David worked as an aide in the New York State Legislature. He enrolled in the Georgetown University Law Center in 1975 and obtained his law degree in 1978.

After graduation, David began his career as counsel to the deputy minority leader in the New York State Senate for the 1979 session. However, as a young man weaned on Perry Mason, he had always dreamed of being a criminal defense attorney. Following the legislative stint, he joined the Legal Aid Society, where he worked as a criminal defense attorney in Brooklyn for five years.

In early 1985, sunny California lured David and his wife, Paula, to Ventura County. After working for a law firm in Los Angeles for a year and a half, he suddenly remembered that he had not moved to California to live on the freeway. He worked briefly for a Ventura firm before opening his own office in 1987. Over the next eleven years, he practiced principally in the areas of personal injury and criminal defense.

David joined Ferguson Case Orr Paterson in 1998 as a partner. David is a member of the California, New York, and District of Columbia bars. He has long been active in the Ventura County Bar Association, serving as its president in 1996. He is currently the chairman of the Bar's Pro Bono Committee. He was the 2006 president of the Ventura County Trial Lawyers Association and continues to serve on the Board of Directors. He also serves as a master in the Ventura chapter of the American Inns of Court. David helped found the Wellness Community Valley/Ventura, and serves as a legal volunteer with the Conejo Free Clinic. With Ferguson Case Orr Paterson, David continues to emphasize personal injury and criminal defense. David resides in Thousand Oaks with Paula, and their daughter, Sarah. He loves to read, travel, and play tennis.