Dr. Alicia McLean brings a rare interdisciplinary background to her legal practice, combining nearly two decades of experience as a psychologist, professor, and researcher with hands-on criminal defense advocacy. She is both an Associate Attorney at Lai & Turner Law Firm and a Professor of Psychology at the University of Central Oklahoma, where her work has long focused on the intersection of psychology, law, and justice.
Dr. McLean earned her Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Psychology from Southern Nazarene University, immediately followed by a Master of Science (M.S.) in Psychology and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Social-Personality Psychology from the University of Oklahoma. Early in her career, she worked in criminal justice research with the Oklahoma Criminal Justice Resource Center and the National Institute of Justice, contributing to large-scale studies involving crime, sentencing, and drug courts. She later served with the Oklahoma State Department of Education before joining UCO in 2007, where she was promoted to Professor in 2019.
After years of teaching and publishing on jury decision-making, sentencing, law enforcement perceptions, and legal outcomes, Dr. McLean returned to formal legal training. She earned a Master of Legal Studies (M.L.S.) from Arizona State University, with certificates in Criminal Law and Conflict Resolution, and later her Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. During law school, she served as a criminal defense intern and Licensed Legal Intern with both public and private criminal defense teams, representing clients in misdemeanor and felony matters and participating in serious felony trials.
Dr. McLean’s commitment to service, mentorship, and access to justice has been recognized through numerous honors. In 2025 alone, she was named to the Association of American Law Schools Pro Bono Honor Roll, received the OU College of Law Pro Bono and Public Service Award for Outstanding Public Servant, and earned the OU Legal Clinic Distinguished Intern Award. She was also recognized as Outstanding Mentor of the Year by the Society for Police and Criminal Psychology, received the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Outstanding OU College of Law Student Award, and was honored with the Distinguished Teaching Award by the American Association of University Professors, UCO Chapter.
Most recently, Dr. McLean practiced as an Assistant Public Defender, where she represented indigent clients and gained extensive courtroom experience. Her approach to criminal defense is informed by a deep understanding of human behavior, decision-making, and institutional dynamics. She is particularly attentive to how psychological factors shape investigations, plea negotiations, and jury outcomes, and she is committed to protecting constitutional rights while ensuring fair process at every stage.
In addition to her legal work, Dr. McLean remains deeply committed to teaching, scholarship, and mentoring. She has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals, presented hundreds of research projects nationally and internationally, and mentored students who have gone on to careers in law, psychology, and public service. Across both the classroom and the courtroom, her work reflects a dedication to thoughtful advocacy, evidence-based reasoning, and justice grounded in respect for the individual.
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