I grew up on a farm in Saunders County, Nebraska. I came to law later in life after finding it challenging to engage an attorney when my daughter needed one. Sometimes good kids fall into bad situations and need legal help! I was busy working full time so it was hard to take the time to find a lawyer. It was also difficult to know if an attorney was going to be the best advocate for my daughter. I ended up hiring someone who did not deliver as well as I knew was possible so I decided I had to do something myself. That’s when I took the plunge and went to law school - at age 50!

Before law school, I worked many years as an administrative assistant and I ran my own daycare business. I was interested in the law, but did not think I could be a lawyer myself. I have always cared deeply about kids and I learned a lot about child development as I built my daycare business. So I started volunteering as a court-appointed special advocate (CASA). This allowed me to help kids who were in difficult situations and learn about the legal system. Through my work as a CASA, I observed the full range of lawyers, how they treated their clients, their families and other attorneys. I saw how important it was for kids to have an adult advocating for them and felt really good about providing that through my volunteer work. I also learned about the effects of trauma, abuse and neglect on children. This knowledge and sensitivity is now central to my practice and continues to benefit my clients.

In July 2021 I became a contract attorney for the Colorado Office of the Child's Representative. OCR attorneys’ responsibilities are dependent upon the case type in which the attorney is appointed and the role the attorney serves in that case. OCR trains all of its attorneys on the law, social science research, child development, mental health and education issues, and best practices relating to issues impacting children involved in court proceedings. Since becoming a licensed attorney, I have practiced as a Guardian ad Litem representing the best interests of children in dependency/neglect, delinquency/truancy, domestic relations; adoption; and mental health cases. I am an experienced attorney skilled in Child Welfare; Juvenile Law, Civil Litigation, Mental Health and Probate.

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My interest in Elder Law and Estate Planning started in Law School and deepened as members of  my own family began aging. Our family dynamics, like most family’s dynamics, are complicated. It is hard to know when an elder member of the family is or is not able to make beneficial decisions on their own behalf as their mental health changes. I’ve also seen families lose major assets because an elder member of the family made a decision without knowledge or the mental capacity to understand the consequences of their actions. I protect elders and families from facing these types of losses through my role as legal representative (guardian ad litem or conservator) and by creating living wills before these types of circumstances become an issue. My first hand experience adds to my sensitivity to the range of concerns among family members.

I began my studies while still working full time to support my family. In law school, I received the Cali Award of Excellence for highest grade in Legal Negotiation. I continue to rigorously develop my professional skills through activities such as the Trauma-Informed Approach Training and Reflective Practice, and the Developmental Disabilities in Juvenile Justice Conference. I am committed to delivering the same level of excellence I devoted to my studies to the clients I serve every day. Please, let me know how I can help you and your family!