Cindy McClelen obtained a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Denver. Following a career as a hotel-restaurant manager, she earned a Juris Doctor degree from the Monterey College of Law. After graduating from law school, Cindy decided that working as a paralegal was a better fit based on the skill set she had developed during her business career. Her time as a paralegal has included working with consumers to seek redress due to unfair, deceptive, and fraudulent business practices; assisting clients who had sustained personal injuries; defending corporations and business owners; and, in the last ten years, working with couples and families negotiating dissolution and child custody.

Cindy’s business background and practice in other legal fields have made her proficient in analyzing and managing complicated financial information. She works directly with clients to prepare their financial disclosures, as well as identify information and documents necessary for the dissolution process. She has prepared for and provided courtroom support for over a dozen multiple-day trials, including working with experts, managing witnesses, and preparing exhibits.

During her career, Cindy has volunteered with several child and young adult-focused organizations. While in law school, she volunteered as a Big Sister and later as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA volunteers advocate for foster children in court). More recently, during the 2023-2024 school years, she participated as a mentor for juniors and seniors at Diamond Technology Institute High School, providing guidance for preparing both for college and future employment.