I didn’t come to the legal field in a straight line. My first real education in family conflict came from my own childhood home, where arguments between my parents were frequent and sometimes serious enough that the police showed up. They eventually divorced while I was in college, and later I went through divorce myself. Those experiences made one thing very clear to me: kids should never be used as leverage. That belief has shaped every part of my work.

Law had always been in the back of my mind, but my path there zigzagged. I dropped out of college because of family issues, worked, raised two sons, and eventually returned to school years later. Along the way, I found that I loved pulling apart complex information, making sense of legal systems, and helping people get their feet under them during chaotic times. I’ve now spent more than 23 years as a paralegal in workers’ compensation, probate and wills, and family law.

A major part of my perspective comes from lived experience, including six years of incarceration at the Washington Corrections Center for Women. During that time, I met women whose stories changed me. I saw how easily mothers can lose contact with their children, how difficult it is to rebuild after release, and how often people are misunderstood or dismissed before anyone listens. Those years fueled my commitment to advocacy. Since then, I’ve spoken to Superior Court Family Law Judges about the challenges incarcerated mothers face, worked in nonprofit leadership roles, and helped build education and reentry programs inside women’s prisons.

I first connected with DuBois Levias in 2019, shortly after I came home. Amanda saw not only my skills but my potential. When a position opened in 2020, I joined the firm. After a period working in nonprofits, I returned because this place is different. The compassion here is real — not just something you put on a brochure. Even when the work is heavy, the support makes it possible to show up for clients with patience and humanity.

At DLLG, my strengths go beyond drafting documents or tracking deadlines. I understand the emotional weight people carry when they walk through our doors. While keeping children’s well-being front and center, my goal is to be steady, calm, and clear during times that can feel overwhelming.

Outside of work, I spend time outdoors hiking and camping, or at home watching horror movies with my son and his wife. I remain actively involved in reentry and prison-related advocacy by speaking to students, volunteering at community events, and supporting women transitioning back into their lives after incarceration.

My path has taken many turns, but every part of it shaped the advocate I am today. It’s the reason I’m committed to helping families move through difficult chapters with dignity, compassion, and hope.