Michele Z. Stevenson

Partner

Michele Z. Stevenson is the founding partner of the Stevenson Law Firm. Ms. Stevenson served eight and one-half years in the U. S. Army Reserve, Judge Advocate General Corps, where she advised and prepared legal documents for soldiers and their families regarding legal separation, divorce, child custody, child support, visitation, spousal support, and property division. Ms. Stevenson has continued focusing her private practice in these areas, a well as other issues that arise in family relationships, such as step-parent adoptions and support modifications. In addition, Ms. Stevenson has pursued an expertise in alternative dispute resolution and, in particular, mediation of family law disputes.

Education

Santa Clara University, School of Law, J.D., May 1995

• Academic and Women Lawyers’ Scholarships
• Moot Court Board
• Member, Public Interest Committee
• Member, Women Lawyers Committee
• Student Liaison, Santa Clara Bar Association’s Women Lawyers Committee
• Law School Admissions Committee Chair
• Community Service Panel

San Jose State University, San Jose, B.A. Political Science 1992

• Magna Cum Laude (top 3%)
• Phi Kappa Phi
• Pi Sigma Alpha (National Political Science Honor Society)
• Golden Key
• Political Science/Chamber of Commerce (Women in Business) Clubs
• City Council Student Assistant

Admissions

California, Washington, and District of Columbia State Bars Central, Eastern, and Northern Districts of the U. S. District Federal Court All California Superior Courts

Memberships and Community Involvement

• Member, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts
• Member, ABA Solo and Small Firm Division
• Member Family Law Sections of the American, California, and Sacramento Bar Associations
• Member and former board member, Women Lawyers’ Association of Sacramento County
• Volunteer, Legal Services of Northern California Employment Law Clinic
• Chair, Board of Directors, Children’s Choice for Hearing and Talking (CCHAT) (elementary school for the deaf)
• Advisory Board Member, Make-A-Wish Foundation
• Former Captain, U. S. Army Reserve, Deputy Command Judge Advocate, Military Transportation Brigade, Vallejo, California
• Recipient of various military honors

Publications

• "The Forensic Use of DNA," San Jose Studies, 1992
• "Military Leave Policy," The In-House Counsel’s Essential Tool Kit, American Bar Association Committee on Corporate Counsel, Vol. 4, Employment Law, Ch. 6 (co-author)
• "California’s New Leave Law for the Spouses of Military Members," Littler Mendelson ASAP, October 2007 (co-author)
• "Amendment to the Family Medical Leave Act Provides New Leave Rights for the Families of Servicemembers," Littler Mendelson ASAP, February 2008 (co-author)
• Wage and Hour Answer Book, Aspen Publishers (2008 ed.), Ch. 3, Minimum Wage and Ch. 13, Investigations by the Wage and Hour Division
• Wage and Hour Counsel: Developments in Wage & Hour Law, blog entries: "California Court Finds Individual Liability Under Joint Employer Theory (March 12, 2009);" "Bill Would Increase Employer Penalties and Strengthen Provisions of USERRA" (co-author, March 16, 2009); "California Labor Commissioner Debars Contractors for Prevailing Wage Violations" (March 15, 2010).
• Member, State Bar of California, Labor; Employment Section
• Member, American Bar Association, Labor; Employment Section
• Member, Sacramento Employers’ Advisory Council
• Member, Sacramento Area Human Resource Association
• Volunteer, Legal Services of Northern California Employment Law Clinic

Family and Interests

Throughout her college, law school, and military career, Ms. Stevenson was the single mother of three children. They were ages one, three, and six when she was faced with the prospect of finding a way to support herself and her children. While continuing to work full-time, she chose to attend college to obtain her paralegal certificate, Bachelor’s of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Biology, law degree, and a military career in the JAG Corps. Now, after more than 25 years, she has remarried and resides in Fair Oaks with her husband, Brad. She enjoys boating, wine tasting, party planning/hosting, cooking, running, biking, scrapbooking, and her two dogs Oscar and Charlie.