Education:
Thomas Jefferson School of Law, J.D.
University of West Los Angeles, B.S.
Admitted 2001 - State Bar of California

Areas of Practice:
Civil and Business Litigation; Employment and Construction Law.

Personal Biography:
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Darlene attended Notre Dame College in Manchester, New Hampshire for two years, where she majored in Political Science and Paralegal Studies, and was actively involved in the Student Congress. After relocating to Los Angeles in 1988, she continued her studies at California State University at Northridge, majoring in Political Science, and then the University of West Los Angeles, nationally ranked by the American Bar Association for its Paralegal Studies Bachelor degree program, where she obtained ABA specialized certifications in Litigation and Real Estate and a B.S. Degree in Paralegal Studies.

While completing her B.S. and paralegal certifications, Darlene began working for a Los Angeles firm specializing in intellectual property, business, and commercial litigation. What initially was to be a part-time position immediately became a full-time position on the firm’s trial team. Among other assignments, she spent six months preparing and taking a plaintiff's case to an eight week trial in federal court, resulting in a multimillion dollar verdict. Upon completion of her undergraduate studies, Darlene continued to work with the Los Angeles firm and, in 1993, transferred to that firm's Las Vegas office for a four-year adventure, both professional and personal.

In 1997, Darlene returned to California and began her law studies at Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego. After her first semester, she attended the University of Vienna, Austria, where she concentrated on comparative legal studies and traveled throughout Europe. Upon her return to Thomas Jefferson, she continued to seek out and participate in many internships and summer associate positions, which included: a summer associate position with The WB Television Network, an internship as a Certified Law Clerk for the San Diego Alternate Public Defenders Office, Juvenile Delinquency section, and a clerk position and subsequent summer associate position with an insurance defense firm in Los Angeles. She has been with our firm since 2001, where she specializes in civil and business litigation, as well as employment and construction law.

Professional Activities:
Darlene is a member of the San Diego County Bar Association, San Diego Defense Lawyers Association, INNS of Court, American Bar Association, and the Association for Trial Lawyers of America. She is admitted to practice before all State courts in California and the United States District Court, Southern District of California.

On A Personal Note:
When not planning her next trip, Darlene can usually be found running, biking, rollerblading, hiking, snorkeling, or seeking out an outdoor concert or art exhibit, all preferably close to the ocean.