About
Julie B. Mains
Ms. Mains is a graduate of the University of California, Los Angeles (B.A.
Political Science 1991) and received her Juris Doctorate, cum laude from
the Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 1996. She was admitted to
practice law in the State of Illinois in 1996 and the State of California in
1997.
Prior to attending law school, Ms. Mains lived in Vienna Austria for one year and
worked for the United Nations, International Atomic Energy Agency,
investigating the trafficking of nuclear bomb components. Following, Ms. Mains
lived in London, England for one year and worked as an assistant to Lord
Bridgeman, House of Lords, Parliament.
During law school (1993-96), Ms. Mains was a member of the Loyola Law Journal and a summer associate at the firm of Altheimer & Gray in Chicago, Illinois. She also clerked for Judge Robert Ginsberg of the Bankruptcy Court and was a member of the Appellate Moot Court Team, which competed in London & Ontario, Canada. In addition, Ms. Mains spent a summer during law school studying European Community law in Rome, Italy at Loyola’s Rome Campus.
After Ms. Mains graduated from law school, she returned to her home state of California and worked for the law firm of Bennett & Welch, in San Francisco assisting in trial preparation for a sexual harassment case pending in Superior Court, Alameda County.
In August 1996, Ms. Mains began working at Shea Law Offices where she worked as a full-time trial lawyer until 2002. During her tenure, Ms. Mains assisted in the prosecution of over one hundred employment cases. Such cases included sex, race, and disability harassment, discrimination and retaliation, assault, false imprisonment, wrongful termination, and defamation, among others. Ms. Mains participated in over fifty mediations and settlements.
She also consulted with business clients regarding all human resources and employment law matters, employment contracts, stock option agreements, wage and hour issues, handbooks, posters, investigations, and mediation.
In 2002, Ms. Mains changed her focus from litigation to a bifurcated practice of estate planning and probate/trust litigation.
Staff
Founded in 2009, Mains Law Office PC provides estate planning, business planning, probate, trust administration, and asset protection solutions to individuals and families.
In addition to professional, skilled atorneys, we have a dedicated support staff of paralegals and legal assistants who take pride in their efforts to provide you and your family with exceptional service.
Deborah L. Blaine, Managing Paralegal
Deborah has worked as a paralegal since 2011. She has over 14 years of legal experience, 12 years of which are with our firm. Deborah has extensive knowledge of estate planning and trust administration. She received her undergraduate and graduate degrees at Pepperdine University and her Paralegal certificate from the University of San Diego.
Kathy Heitmann, Probate Paralegal
Kathy has worked as a probate paralegal since 1988. She earned her Paralegal certificate from Coastline College and her Bachelor of Arts from Cal State Fullerton. With over 30 years of experience, Kathy brings an extensive knowledge of probate and trust administration to our firm.
Jeela Fakhriravari, Litigation Paralegal
While aspiring to become an attorney, Jeela has acquired over three years of legal experience through internships and administrative positions. She has been a part of our firm for 1.5 years and is also a Notary Public. Jeela received her undergraduate degree in Economics and Law & Society from the University of California, San Diego.
Joanne Buchs, Law Clerk
Joanne has worked in professional services for the last 12 years. She provides technical and logistical support to all staff members. She received her graduate degree at California State University, Fullerton.
Sharon T. Hughes, Client Services Paralegal
With over 32 years of diverse experience in the corporate, real estate, educational, and legal sectors, Sharon brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our team. Having recently received her Paralegal certification, Sharon holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the State University of New York at Cortland, showcasing her dedication to continuous learning and professional growth.
Kim Westerfield, Legal Assistant
Kim has worked in education and real estate services for over 20 years. She earned her Bachelor of Science from California State University, Fullerton. She brings her decades of professional experience to her position as Legal Assistant.
Liz Drew, Legal Assistant
Liz is our detail-oriented billing specialist with a strong background in organization, client communication, and administrative support. With experience managing billing processes for a busy attorney’s office, she is dedicated to accuracy, efficiency, and providing dependable support behind the scenes.