Paula J. Swensen

“Today’s family law attorneys must be a skilled problem solver who, through preparation, thoughtful analysis, and passionate advocacy is able to help each client achieve their optimal outcome.”

In serving the needs of her clients, Paula Swensen brings highly-skilled problem solving, compassion, and zeal to the successful resolution of each client’s legal family law matter. Ms. Swensen limits her practice to family law mediation and litigation, including Collaborative Practice.

Paula Swensen graduated from the University of New Hampshire (B.S., Behavioral Science, highest honors, 1996) and Franklin Pierce Law Center (J.D., 1999; M.A., Intellectual Property). Between her second and third years of law school, Ms. Swensen completed a summer internship with the Honorable Joseph F. Weis, Jr., of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The legal analysis and persuasive writing skills garnered through this extraordinary experience redound to the benefit of each one of Ms. Swensen’s family law clients.

Ms. Swensen was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar (2000), the California Bar (2003), and the U.S. District Court, Central District of California (2003). Ms. Swensen has been Certified as a Specialist in Family Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.

Ms. Swensen is a member of the Family Law Section of the Orange County Bar and member of the State Bar of California. She has also served as an arbitrator on the Orange County Bar Association Mandatory Fee Arbitration Committee, and in that capacity has adjudicated numerous proceedings as the sole arbitrator.

In addition to her litigation practice, Ms. Swensen maintains a strong mediation practice, which brings her expertise as a family law specialist to bear in an arena designed to facilitate a mutually-satisfying resolution to parties engaged in all manner of family law disputes. Ms. Swensen has been trained as a mediator as prescribed by the California Dispute Resolution Programs Act (DRPA). She has participated in the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University, the Family Resolution Institute, and has completed more than 200 hours of advanced training in mediation and collaborative practice. Ms. Swensen was honored to be chosen as the 2023 Family Law “Lawyer of the Year” for Collaborative Law in Orange County.

Above all, Ms. Swensen’s practice reflects her strong-held belief that families experiencing divorce are not well-served by “scorched-earth,” costly litigation. Assisting divorcing parties with their transition to the next chapter of their lives with dignity and respect has been the hallmark of Ms. Swensen’s law practice.

Paula Swensen, a native of New Jersey, has been an Orange County resident since 2000. Ms. Swensen lives in Trabuco Canyon and has three children. She is an avid sports fan, supporting any and all teams from the Boston area.