Other than attending law school in Spokane, Washington
I have spent my entire life in Reno, Nevada. I am a Reed High School graduate, and recipient of the Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship. I graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno, receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology (with a minor in drug and alcohol addiction counseling and prevention services) and a Master’s Degree in Justice Management.
Prior to attending law school, I worked for several years at the very well-known and well- respected Reno law firm of Erickson, Thorpe, & Swainston, Ltd. This inspired me to become a lawyer, and that is exactly what I did. I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Gonzaga University School of Law. While there, I received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Legal Research and Writing IV, and also served as Associate Editor of the Gonzaga Law Review and interned for Honorable Deborah R. Hayes of the Spokane County District Court.
After law school, I was afforded the opportunity to return to Erickson, Thorpe & Swainston, Ltd. — this time as a civil litigation attorney practicing primarily in the areas of insurance defense, personal injury, and employment. While I knew that I loved and was good at litigating, I did not find my niche in civil litigation because it didn’t fulfill my
While I knew that I loved and was good at litigating, I did not find my niche in civil litigation because it didn’t fulfill my passion of helping people and making a difference in their lives. Thus, when Marilyn York inquired as to whether I would be interested in joining her family law practice, I was extremely honored and excited. After my first meeting with her, I knew that family law would be the perfect area for me and that I would be a great fit for her office. I never looked back.
Working here has made me more than a lawyer assessing and advising clients regarding his or her legal rights or the rights of his or her company. I have had the opportunity to help individuals through one of the most difficult and stressful experiences in their lives. Given the stress that clients go through in family law, I firmly believe that they also need an attorney who can listen, be supportive, and be on their side when they feel like no one else is. This is why having a good family law attorney who also has these qualities is invaluable throughout the divorce process.
This is not to say that family law does not have its difficulties for an attorney. At times it is very emotional and stressful. However, this is far outweighed by the reward of knowing that I am helping clients and their children come through difficult circumstances and also helping preserve financial stability and security for them and their children.
I am a member of the Association of Defense Counsel of Nevada (2018 President, 2017 Vice President), as well as the American Inns of Court, Bruce R. Thompson chapter. Aside from helping families, I enjoy spending my time fulfilling my other passion of helping animals. I am a HUGE animal lover – to say the least. I serve on the Board of Directors of the Nevada Humane Society and am a member of the Animal Legal Defense Fund. Aside from serving on the Nevada Humane Society’s Board of Directors, as anyone who knows me well can attest, many of my days are spent rescuing and helping homeless animals and providing foster care to animals for the Nevada Humane Society. Our moto is “Caring for Nevada’s pets, finding them homes & saving lives.”
Charities We Support
Nevada Youth Empowerment Project (NYEP) – http://nyep.org
Truckee Meadows Housing Solutions (TMHS) – https:// truckeemeadowshousingsolutions .org/
Nevada Humane Society – https://nevadahumanesociety. org/
Good Shepherd Clothing Closet – http://www.gsccreno.org/
Res-que – https://res-que.rescuegroups. org/
Lexie’s Gift – https://www.lexiesgift.com/
Solace Tree – http://www.solacetree.org/
