I came to Colorado from New York in 1981 and spent 3 years enjoying Glenwood Springs. I moved to Boulder for school and in 1986 earned my BA in Psychology with Distinction at CU Boulder and my Phi Beta Kappa key. I graduated from the University of Colorado School of Law in May 1989, approximately 6 weeks after giving birth to my daughter. I elected to postpone the bar exam 6 months to spend time with my baby and was admitted to the Colorado Bar in 1990, and the US District Court (District of Colorado) and US Court of Appeals (10th Circuit) in 1991. A strong believer that alternative dispute resolution (ADR) has an important place in our legal system, in 2008 I completed a 40 hour training in mediation.
During law school I clerked and later moved to an associate position at a fast paced Boulder litigation firm (Cook & Lee PC) specializing in a wide variety of personal injury cases including toxic tort and class action suits. Working with top notch litigators, I was intrigued by the complexity of the cases and became excited about advocating for people who were fighting an uphill battle against powerful insurance companies and corporations. Coming from my background in psychology I was also acutely aware of the level of trauma that many of our clients were dealing with, and how that impacted their claims and their lives. After my son was born in 1992 I decided it was time to go out on my own, allowing me to better balance my professional life with parenting my two young children.
My vision for my own niche firm evolved and in late 1992 I started my own practice in Lafayette. I worked to create a caring and compassionate environment where my clients are supported and respected every step of the way. I am mindful of the traumatic stress that so often accompanies serious injuries, especially traumatic brain injuries, and how it often profoundly impacts injured clients and work hard to minimize that stress during the legal process. I offer a highly individualized level of service and take the time to personally help each client navigate the process. Understanding all aspects of my clients’ injuries and their claims enables me to more effectively advocate aggressively against insurance companies and maximize economic recovery. 25 years later, I continue to offer an approachable and effective alternative to the numerous “big law” personal injury attorneys vying for your case.
Outside of work, my community service in recent years has included street outreach at HOPE (Homeless Outreach Providing Encouragement), mentoring elementary school children through Kids Hope USA and extensive volunteering and co-facilitating at Rebuilding Seminars (divorce recovery group). Currently I am excited to begin my work as a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) for abused and neglected children in Boulder County. I am married to Longmont pastor Max Bailey and our blended family includes 6 children and 5 grandchildren, with another expected in August! In addition to spending time with the family, I enjoy long walks, cycling, movies, reading and travel.