Maria graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with two bachelor’s degrees. From then, she earned her Juris Doctorate from the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawaii, graduating cum laude in 2001. While in law school, she honed her writing and trial skills by serving as editor-in-chief of the Asian-Pacific Law & Policy Journal and an editor of the school’s law review. She also participated in the Jessup International Law Moot Court Team as both brief writer and oralist, the Thomas Tang National Moot Court Competition sponsored by the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association as both brief writer and oralist, and the International Environmental Moot Court Competition as a brief writer.

The day after graduating from law school, Maria moved to Las Vegas, where soon after she provided pro bono services briefly for the Clark County Special Public Defender’s office. She has since honed her litigation skills in diverse legal fields, from personal injury, premises liability, civil rights, surety law, commercial litigation, and contract disputes. In that time, she has accumulated millions of dollars in settlements and awards on behalf of her clients. She also served as an instructor on a variety of legal subjects at a local college, where she enjoyed passing on her passion and knowledge of the law.

Maria has always been passionate about the law, justice, and advocacy. Her heroes, such as Gerry Spence and Clarence Darrow, are those who have used their legal and oratory skills to obtain justice for their clients. Her passion is evident in both her writing and in oral arguments and in trial. Her passion extends to fulfilling her obligations to her clients, which is her primary duty as an advocate. Because of her passion for justice, she chooses clients who have been wronged in some way or another.

To better serve her clients in pursuit of justice through the courts, Maria continues to sharpen her trial skills through in-depth, on-location seminars with giants in the legal field. She first earned an Advocate certificate from the acclaimed National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA). She then returned to earn a Master Advocate certificate. Most recently, Maria graduated from the selective Gerry Spence Trial Lawyer’s College, where she had the joy and unique opportunity to learn from one of the best trial attorneys in the nation. Maria has earned the distinction of being the only attorney in Las Vegas who has graduated from both NITA programs and the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyer’s College.

In the little spare time she can find, Maria meditates, takes photography classes, and shoots portraits and street photography. Occasionally, she may practice the art of the bluff at a local Texas Hold ‘Em poker game.