About twenty years ago I started my own family law firm. I envisioned a place where individuals going through the de-coupling process could feel empowered through education.
I met with clients who were at the darkest moments in their lives and then helped them to attain a new and better life for themselves and their children. It turns out that practicing family law is inspiring, positive, and deeply meaningful work.
I have always been the friend people come to for advice and moral support when they need it most. I was inspired to go to law school with the goal of working in family law after providing emotional support to a close friend going through a divorce.
Growing up in a divorced family, I switched elementary schools six times in five years. My family of four quickly evolved into a much larger extended family with two sets of parents, four step-siblings, and two half-siblings. In my teenage years, I craved a “normal family.”
My role as a family law attorney means facilitating the closure of one chapter and helping people begin a new one. To navigate the difficult process of going through a divorce, I hope to keep people focused on the future.
I first became interested in family law while I was teaching in an early elementary school. My students were very young but many were involved in legal issues affecting their families. During law school, I interned with an organization that represented parents going through cases with Child Protective Services, so family law was a natural fit once I graduated from law school.
As a woman of color in the legal field, it makes all the difference to be able to dip into my personal experiences to understand and be sensitive to the individual needs of my clients. This is especially relevant in the context of family law, where cultural competency can be crucial to understanding the dynamics of diverse family structures. Attorneys can and should play a vital role in mitigating unnecessary conflict.
While I began law school with a strong focus on immigration, my first summer of law school I landed an internship at a family law firm. I quickly developed a love for the practice of family law as I got to experience the legal complexities, high emotions, and reward involved in every case.
I was born in South Korea. My sister and I were adopted when I was five and she was seven. Growing up an orphan and being adopted at an older age has shaped my outlook, and I've always been drawn to helping families and children.