1. How do you define your legal practice and typical clients?
My practice is mostly real estate, contracts, corporate and governance matters, and outside general counsel work. My clients range from individuals and real estate professionals to brokerages, associations, MLSs, HOA, and businesses.
2. Tell us about your legal career journey. What made you become a lawyer and how did you land at Practus?
I started as a paralegal, which is how I figured out that I wanted to become a lawyer. I was already learning cases and wanted to help solve the legal problems. After law school, I worked in private practice and then spent over nine years as in-house counsel. I worked closely with real estate professionals – teaching, advising on risk reduction, creating standard forms, and overseeing professional standards. When I returned to private practice, I wanted to build my own practice but did not want to do everything alone. Practus gives me the independence and a firm full of experienced people and resources.
3. What about the Practus model serves you as a legal professional, and as a person?
I like having control over my practice. I can focus on the work I am good at, choose the clients who are a good fit, and build something that feels like mine without building it from scratch. Practus allows me to have a work-life balance. I do not think being a successful lawyer should require you to give up everything else.
4. What is the one thing you wish people about to hire a lawyer with your expertise knew?
People sometimes wait because they think they can handle the matter themselves or that a lawyer is too expensive. A lot of times, people could have saved money by being proactive and having a conversation early on instead of reacting after the fact.
5. Sometimes our best quality is also the one that gets us in tough situations. Tell us about your best quality and how it has mostly worked for you, except that one time …
I am direct. Most clients like that because they know I am going to give them an honest answer. Sometimes issues feel very personal and people become emotional. As such, when advised to take the emotion out of the situation, it isn’t the easiest thing for a person to accomplish.
6. When you’re not working at Practus, what’s keeping you busy? Any cool hobbies or hidden talents we don’t know about?
I wish. I have a 12-year-old who plays baseball, so I spend a lot of time at the baseball fields. I also have two large dogs that need exercise (also good for humans). I do like to hike when it’s not over 90 degrees.
7. What would your colleagues be totally shocked (or mildly surprised) to find out about you? Do you kill at karaoke? Write political thrillers? Watch Star Trek (original) reruns?
My former life, I worked in gaming (casinos) for 11 years, with eight of those years in poker.
Editor: Wait, what?
When I graduated college, I became a poker dealer as I was already working full time throughout undergrad at a casino (finance, slots) in Michigan. I started as a dealer and worked my way up to Poker Room Pit Manager. Then my boyfriend (husband now) and I moved to Arizona (long story). In Arizona, I started as a dealer and then was a dual rate – dealer and Floorperson.
Editor: Are you a poker-playing card shark, and do you have a poker face?
I am not a gambler but have played a little bit of poker. However, the last time I played in a casino was probably close to 20 years ago. Interestingly, my husband is a Poker Room Shift Manager at Talking Stick. I do not have a poker face. Quite the opposite actually.
BONUS QUESTION: What would you do if you weren’t an attorney?
Hairstylist.
Editor: Poker dealer … hairstylist? We need details.
I don’t know where hairstyling comes from. I would say that being able to help people feel good about themselves is probably why I wanted to be a hairdresser. I also think the independence of being a hairdresser would be nice. I don’t cut my own hair but I have been cutting my husband’s hair for over 20 years and my son’s hair for the first 11 years of his life – he no longer wants the only style I know. LOL! I don’t have any formal training, my husband simply does not want to go anywhere else for a haircut.
