
Practice areas: Family Law
Licensed in California since: 2009
Education: Fordham University School of Law
Languages Spoken: English, Spanish
Mendes Law, PC
1990 N California BlvdSuite 1020
Walnut Creek, CA 94596 Phone: 925-979-5568 Email: Laura Alvarez Visit website
Details
Certified as a specialist in family law by the California Board of Legal Specialization, Laura Alvarez primarily focuses her practice on family law.
Known for caring deeply about her clients’ cases, Ms. Alvarez is aware of the disruption and damages that family legal disputes have on the lives of families and children. She is highly skilled at handling cases that involve divorce, domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, property division, high-conflict custody disputes and parenting agreements. She examines every case carefully and makes decisions that are in the best interests of her clients, enabling them to protect their rights and stay safe.
Ms. Alvarez completed her Bachelor of Arts at Oberlin College in Ohio in 2005. She received her Doctor of Jurisprudence from Fordham University School of Law in New York in 2009. During law school, she was engaged with Fordham’s Stein Scholars Program in Public Interest Law and Ethics. She is licensed to practice law in California (2009) and Georgia (2012).
Ms. Alvarez has come forward to serve several legal organizations and offer pro bono services. She has represented domestic violence victims by being part of Community Overcoming Relationship Abuse (CORA) and Bay Area Legal Aid. She previously on the board of the San Mateo County Law Library Foundation and is a part of the Legal Process Committee of the Domestic Violence Council of San Mateo County.
Ms. Alvarez is firmly believes in role of libraries in serving the greater good of our communities and supporting a truly democratic society. Ms. Alvarez is currently a Commissioner for the Arts, Culture and Library Commission of the City of San Leandro.
A former treasurer of the Georgia Hispanic Bar Association, she also published an article for the Georgia Bar Family Law Review in 2013.
Ms. Alvarez has earned many positive reviews from her former clients. She is fluent in Spanish.
First Admitted: 2009, California
Professional Webpage: https://mendeslawca.com/
- San Mateo County Law Library Foundation, board officer
- Alameda County Bar Association, Member, 2024
- San Mateo County Bar Association, Member, 2022
- Legal Process Committee of the San Mateo County Domestic Violence Council, Member
- Family Law Specialist certified by the State Bar of California. , 2021
- Volunteer: Lawyers in the Library and Community Law Night at the San Mateo County Law Library, 2020
- Representing Immigrants in Family Law: Key Issues, Georgia Bar Family Law Review, Summer, 2013
- Successfully led briefing team and orally argued Jane Doe v. Scott Damron (2021) 70 Cal.App.5th 684, 285 Cal. Rptr. 634. Lead trial counsel in underlying matter. This case held that California has personal jurisdiction over a non-resident husband who sexually battered and committed domestic violence against his wife while travelling in California, where wife also was not a California resident. The husband's actions satisfied the minimum contacts required for due process for California to exercise personal jurisdiction, and the exercise of personal jurisdiction was reasonable under the Due Process Clause. , 2021
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2024 - 2025
- Rising Stars: 2019, 2023
Certificates and credentials
Family Law
