As an ABA-certificated Paralegal, Dorette assists the firm by drafting legal pleadings and discovery, conducting detailed legal research, and assisting in facilitating litigation processes from start to finish. She approaches her work with equal parts precision and compassion, ensuring every case is supported by strong research and thoughtful attention to our clients. She describes her work as a “dream job,” one that allows her to marry her love of research and writing with her passion for helping others, especially those who have been wronged in some way and are justified in seeking legal remedy.
Before joining the firm, Dorette earned her Paralegal Certificate from the University of San Diego School of Law. She spent her collegiate career at San Diego State University, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy with a minor in Political Science, as well as a Master’s degree in Philosophy concentrating her studies on philosophy of law, epistemology, and ethical theory. During her graduate studies, she taught philosophy courses for the university on critical thinking and legal logic, further igniting her passion for the power of education to create agency . This specialized work experience sharpened her analytical research skills and deepened her commitment to justice, fairness, and reasoned advocacy for disadvantaged or disparaged communities. She believes that when people understand the fundamentals of argumentation, they gain a vital apparatus for advocacy. While we can’t erase the pain of injustice, we can equip people with the knowledge and confidence necessary to hold wrongdoers accountable. Even in the aftermath of wrongdoing, good can emerge when people are empowered to seek justice.
Beyond her professional work, Dorette is known around the office as the firm’s official birthday card maker, a title she bears with tremendous pride. Outside of work, she finds joy in caring for her collection of tropical carnivorous pitcher plants, exploring historical sites around San Diego, and spending time outdoors usually hiking or wandering through places steeped in history and natural beauty.