I grew up in Northeast Missouri and graduated from Truman State University in 2002. I attended law school in Vermillion, South Dakota. While in law school in interned at the Federal Public Defender in Omaha.

Upon graduation I accepted a position at the Public Defender's Office in Sioux Falls, SD. During my 6 years at that office, I handled thousands of cases ranging from traffic tickets to serious felonies.

I have filed numerous pre-trial motions to keep specific evidence out at trial with the most public one being in 2013 where a successful pre-trial motion kept the prosecutors from using the term "abusive head trauma" on a shaken baby case.

I have also had numerous trials, both jury and bench trials, with great outcomes.

As I handled more and more cases I realized that a "win" was not necessarily a not guilty verdict (although those are fantastic), but helping clients to make major life changes. I have been able to get clients through diversion programs where they are able to move forward to receive degrees or professional certificates, to one client even opening her own business.

Leaving that office was tough because of the relationships I had made, but being able to work for myself and to put more time into every case has been just as rewarding.