Before becoming an attorney, Susan spent years working as an insurance adjuster handling workers’ compensation and bodily injury claims. In that role, she developed a deep understanding of how insurance companies evaluate claims—how medical records are reviewed, how value is assigned, and how internal guidelines, reserves, and risk management considerations shape outcomes.

Susan worked within an established claims structure that allowed for meaningful responsibility and discretion in handling files. She was also selected as the designated adjuster for the company’s largest insured, managing complex claims subject to specialized claims‑handling procedures. That position provided valuable insight into high‑level claims decision‑making and the inner workings of the insurance system. At the same time, final determinations remained subject to supervisory review and institutional guidelines—reinforcing that outcomes were often driven by process rather than independent advocacy for injured individuals.

Later, Susan was recruited to work for a large personal injury firm, where she gained hands‑on experience advocating for injured clients from a different vantage point. She played an active role in evaluating cases, working directly with clients, and developing claims. However, as a nonlawyer, certain decisions—particularly whether and when to file suit—were appropriately reserved for licensed attorneys. Even when Susan believed strongly in the merits of a client’s case and that litigation was the right course, she could not make that determination herself without a law degree.

Working within those professional boundaries—on both sides of the claims process—clarified her goals. Susan wanted to be in a position where her experience, judgment, and belief in a client’s case were fully aligned with the authority to act. Determined to take on that responsibility, she made the deliberate decision to go to law school. She enrolled in night classes to prepare for the LSAT, applied to law school, and made significant personal sacrifices to pursue that goal—selling her home, parting with most of her belongings, and leaving a lucrative career she loved in order to return to school.

More than 25 years later, what continues to drive Susan is the same purpose that led her to change course: helping people make informed decisions at critical moments in their lives. Her background gives her a rare perspective—understanding not only how insurance companies think, but also how thoughtful evaluation, strategic patience, and principled advocacy can fundamentally change outcomes. That perspective guides her practice today, allowing her to counsel clients with clarity, integrity, and a steady focus on what is ultimately best for them and their families.