Attorney & Staff Profiles
Rebecca D. Lizarraga, Esq.
Practice Areas: Family Law, Gay and Lesbian Family Law, Domestic Partnership Agreements and Dissolution, Military Family Law, Adoptions, Probate Litigation, Civil Litigation and Appeals, Administrative Hearings and Appeals (Civil Service and State Bar Defense)
Admitted: 2003, California; U.S. District Court, Northern, Eastern, Southern and Central Districts of California
Law School: Southwestern University School of Law, Los Angeles, Juris Doctor, December 2002
- Member Journal of Law & Trade in the Americas 2001-2002
- Member, Moot Court Honors Program 2000-2001 (Gibbons Team, Newark NJ)
- President, Latino Law Students Association 2000-2001
- Community Affairs Commissioner, Student Bar Association 2000-2001
- Study Abroad Program at Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Mexico, Summer 2001
- Recipient of three CALI "Excellence for the Future Awards" in Torts II, Legal Research & Writing and Civil Liberties
- Recipient, "Exceptional Achievement Award" Constitutional Law Seminar
- Recipient, Finalist Writer & Alternate Oralist Awards, 20000 Intramural Moot Court Competition
- Recipient "Blue Book Award" Southwestern Journal of Law and Trade in the Americas 2002
- Recipient, Student Bar Association Community Service Award 2000-2001
- Recipient, Schumacher Minority Leadership Scholarship; Mexican American Bar Foundation's Hon. Manuel Martinez Memorial Scholarship and Public Interest 2000 Summer Grant
College: California State University, Northridge, B.A. Psychology 1992
- Dean's List 1990 & 1991
- Psy Chi National Honor Society in Psychology 1990-1992
- Member CSUN Psychology Association 1990 - 1992
Member: Los Angeles County (Family Law Section), American, Latina Lawyers, Mexican American and Beverly Hills Bar Associations; State Bar of California
Biography:
- Law Offices of Rebecca D. Lizarraga, Established - May 2006.
- Lizarraga Law, APC, Incorporated as Professional Law Corporation - May 2009.
- Robie & Matthai, APC, Los Angeles, Associate, June 2003 – May 2006
Practice centered on Judicial and Attorney Professional defense and legal malpractice defense, insurance coverage disputes and appellate work before the California Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and California Supreme Court.
Represented approximately 30 California State Superior Court Judges before the Commission on Judicial Performance for alleged misconduct. - United States District Court, Central District of California, Los Angeles - 2001
Full-Time Extern, for the Honorable Edward Rafeedie, Senior U.S. District Court Judge - Teaching Assistant for Professor Franklin L. Ferguson Jr., SW Law - 2000 – 2001 Conducted Torts tutorials for 80 first year students
- Protection & Advocacy, Inc., Los Angeles, Law Clerk, Summer 2000
- Los Angeles County, Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), 1996 – 2002
Section-Head of the Out-of-Home Care Evaluation Unit (OHCEU)
Supervised 19 staff including 11 child abuse investigators. OHCEU was responsible to investigate allegations of abuse and neglect among the almost 30,000 dependent children placed in approximately 10,000 out-of home licensed or certified family facilities including group homes, licensed foster homes and Foster Family Agencies (FFA) in Los Angeles and adjacent counties.Children's Social Worker II / Metro North Regional Office
Managed a caseload of 60 neglected/abused children. Assessed whether children could safely remain in their own home or must be removed for their protection. Referred family members and foster parents to community agencies for counseling, parenting education, drug rehabilitation. Documented case plans/case activity. Prepared court reports and appeared as witness in court hearings. - Los Angeles County Probation Department, 1990 – 1996
Assistant to the Chief of Juvenile Institutions Bureau, Probation Headquarters
Served as liaison between the Chief, Probation Directors, Personnel and the Community. Researched Case Law, State and Federal Statutes and Regulations that may effect Departmental Policies and Procedures. Serve as advisor to the Chief on employee discipline matters particularly in regard to child abuse under the color of authority.Departmental Civil Service Representative (DCSR) – Discipline Unit, Probation Headquarters
Provided consultative services to Probation Directors regarding the discipline process; investigated and reviewed allegations of misconduct by Peace Officers and recommended appropriate level of disciplinary action. Represented the Department at the Civil Service Commission and Arbitration Hearings.Camp Joseph Scott and Dorothy Kirby Center, Acting Deputy Probation Officer (DPO)
Served as Juvenile Court Liaison Deputy; Supervised residential treatment program for delinquent youth; casework planning, preparation of court reports; Orientation of new staff and minors. Certified Parenting Instructor of court ordered parenting program for residents and families. Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certified. - State of Oregon Mental Health Division, Salem Oregon, 1987-1989
Staff Assistant to three Governor Appointed Counsels including: the Governor's State Developmental Disabilities Planning Counsel, State of Oregon Supported Employment Initiative and the State of Oregon Community Integration Project, which included implementing home and community based waivers to alter institutional approaches.
Reported Cases: Estate of Spirtos v. One San Bernardino County Superior Court, Case Numbered SPR 02211, 443 F.3d 1172 (9th Cir. 2006); Mercury Insurance Company v. Allstate Insurance Company (2005) 123 Cal. App. 4th 1392.
Born: Burbank, California
Jennifer M. Lawlor, Of Counsel
Practice Areas: Family Law, Immigration Law
Admitted: 2006, California
Law School: Southwestern University School of Law, J.D., 2006
College: Webster University, B.A., Philosophy, 2002
Member: Los Angeles County Bar Association (Member, Immigration Section).
Biography: Research assistant to Professor Katherine Parsons, assisted in establishment of first Ethics focused curriculum and certificate at Webster University with emphasis on moral ethics, medical ethics, and environmental ethics; President Philosophy Club, Webster University 2000–2001; Dean’s List Southwestern Law 2004; President OUTlaw 2004–2005, SW Law; member National Lawyers Guild 2003–2006, SW Law; Associate with Law Office of Lucy Avedissian (Immigration Practice focusing on Family, Employment and Asylum issues) 2006–present.
Born: Sedalia, Missouri
Jacquelynn Lizarraga, Of Counsel
Practice Area: Family Law
Admitted: 2009, California
Law School: Southwestern University School of Law, Los Angeles, California, Juris Doctor, 2008
College: The George Washington University, B.A. Political Science, 2005
Member: Human Rights Campaign, Planned Parenthood Action Network
Biography: Jacquelynn "Jacq" was born and raised in Los Angeles and attended Beverly Hills High School. Throughout elementary, junior high and high school, Jacq was an avid athlete, playing AYSO, club soccer and BH Varsity Soccer and Soft Ball. Jacq received a full academic scholarship to attend The George Washington University (GWU) in Washington, D.C. Jacq was a member of the GWU mock trial team and competed at universities throughout the Northeast including but not limited to Yale, Princeton and the University of Pennsylvania . Upon graduating from GWU, Jacquelynn attended American University, Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C. After her first year at American University, Jacquelynn was a Summer Law Clerk, at American University’s Civil Practice Clinic where she conducted client interviews and researched and drafted motions for low-income clients in civil matters in the Washington, D.C. metro area. Additionally, Jacquelynn was a research assistant to her Real Property professor, Pamela Bridgewater at American University where she edited, researched and contributed to articles regarding reproductive rights and critical economic theories. After completing her first year of law school, Jacquelynn transferred to Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles to complete her legal education and to aid her mother, Rebecca in the running of her new family law practice. During her time at Southwestern, Jacquelynn was offered and participated in a Summer Externship at Alcon Entertainment, where she assisted the VP of Business and Legal Affairs in drafting talent agreements, producer agreements and researching relevant entertainment law issues. During her last two years of law school, Jacquelynn worked at Lizarraga Law, learning both the legal and the business aspects of running a family law practice. Today, Jacquelynn works closely with her mother, Rebecca in running the day-to-day business operations of the practice.
Born: Northridge, California
