My journey to be a family law attorney began before I was even born. As a child of surrogacy, legal minds were already sorting through the details of my existence before anyone knew I too would become an attorney helping families. I now have wonderful relationships with my parents, as well as my birth mother, and I am grateful to the attorneys who made it all happen.

Every family’s story is unique and I love connecting with clients on a human level and walking with them through an often-challenging time in their life. Each case requires its own balance of compassion and diligence, and I understand the importance of having an advocate in your corner when navigating an emotional, yet professional environment.

I have always loved advocating for children and my passion for educational equity inspired me to apply to the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, where I aimed to advance the right to education for young girls globally. At Georgetown, I concentrated my studies on international law and human rights, focusing my research on violence against women and children in times of conflict. This research led me to work with an international human rights agency in Washington, DC where I advocated for global anti-human trafficking efforts. The opportunity to meet and build relationships with survivors of some of the most egregious crimes against humanity was incredibly formative and made me dedicated to fighting for those who are vulnerable in the justice system.

I continued my passion for advocacy as an AmeriCorps Teaching Fellow in an underserved community in DC. While teaching 9th grade algebra classes, I functioned as a mentor to my students and built meaningful relationships with them, as well as with their families. Given complicated family situations and unstable living conditions, several of my students often relied on me as a support system. The stories and struggles that my students shared with me were incredibly impactful, and largely influenced my decision to pursue a legal career. With the aspirations of becoming an attorney, I pursued my Juris Doctorate at the University of North Carolina School of Law in Chapel Hill.

In law school, I gained valuable experience working with survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and harassment, as well as families facing hardship. Through opportunities with Safe Alliance, UNC’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Clinic, and the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence, I assisted survivors in court and advocated for legal policies affecting them. As a judicial intern in juvenile court, I witnessed a range of abuse, dependency-neglect, and families in need of services cases. I also helped families access vital health care and public benefits through the Family Support and Health Care team at the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this meaningful work and continue to be inspired and motivated by relationships with clients, understanding their stories, and helping them to assert their rights. I am eager to continue this advocacy and am ready and willing to work with you on any of your family law needs.

Associations

• North Carolina State Bar
• 26th Judicial District Bar/Mecklenburg County Bar Association, Family Law Section