Maria is a Los Angeles native who followed her passion by practicing in family law and is as devoted to the field as she is to those she represents. She graduated from the University of California San Diego where she received a B.A. in Political Science with a double minor in Law and Society and American History. Maria received her J.D. from Ave Maria School of Law and earned two “CALI Excellence for the Future” awards for the highest scoring student in Advanced Legal Research and Trial Advocacy III. Maria is currently a member of the Family Law Section of the California State Bar, Los Angeles County Bar, Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles and the National Association of Professional Women. She prides herself on providing excellent client service while protecting the rights and interests of our clients and their families. Maria has excelled at preparing cases for trial by consulting with expert witnesses and clients. She has achieved many great results, settling many difficult and challenging cases on the courthouse steps. Maria is an alumnus of Pepperdine’s renowned Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Mediating the Litigated Case, where she further studied the mediation of litigated cases to become a better mediator and better advocate for her clients. In her spare time, Maria enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors and staying active. When she is not working, you can find her at the beach. She is an avid reader and sports fan and enjoys experimenting with new and creative recipes in the kitchen.