ABOUT ME
My path into the legal profession was rather unconventional. I always knew from an early age that I wanted to carve out a career that would allow me to help people and have an impact on my community, but the legal profession certainly wasn't my first thought. After graduating from the University of Nebraska in 1987 with an undergraduate degree in biology, I decided to enter a post-graduate program so that I could earn my masters and further my education. After completing graduate school, I decided to go into business for myself before eventually working for a nonprofit organization.
After a few years of working for myself and in the nonprofit sector, I decided it was time for a new challenge. I decided to enter into law school and was accepted into the Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College, the Vermont Law School and the University of Nebraska College of Law. After some careful consideration, I decided to move to Portland, Oregon and begin the path toward earning my law degree. I was fortunate enough to study law under some of the brightest minds in the profession, and by 1999, I graduated with my Juris Doctor and passed the Oregon state bar that same year. I worked in politics for the first few years after graduating, and then went into business as a sole practitioner in 2002, focusing my efforts on personal injury cases because it offered me the opportunity to help clients who were struggling and in desperate need of help.
I aim to treat each client with the same level of respect and attention to detail because I understand the financial and emotional stress they’re under — and I want to help.
After seven years of working as a general practitioner focused on personal injury law, I was looking to broaden my abilities as an attorney. That's when I decided to learn bankruptcy law so that I could reach a whole new subset of clients who were in need of trusted legal counsel and assistance.
With nearly 20 years of experience working with clients across Northern Oregon, I've truly found a way to help others and positively impact the community around me. As an attorney that can provide relief in the areas of personal injury and bankruptcy law, it gives me great joy to be able to help others in times of significant physical, emotional, and financial distress. I understand how difficult these times can be, and it's a rewarding experience to be able to use my knowledge and legal experience to help craft creative legal solutions that can help those in need. And although my journey to get to where I am today may have been unconventional, I wouldn't have it any other way.
Bar Admissions
Oregon bar, 1999
Education
B.S. and M.S. - The University of Nebraska, 1987
J.D. Northwest School of Law of Lewis and Clark College, 1999