Isabel Steinmetz has been passionate about advocating for children throughout her life and now continues her passion by practicing family law. One of the aspects she likes most about family law is that she gets to work closely with people. “I enjoy working with individuals and families to solve real-life problems with empathy, patience, and sympathy. My focus is on developing creative legal solutions with a human touch,” says Isabel.
Isabel brings a unique perspective to the job. A native of Germany, she gained international experience by first studying in London, UK. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from King’s College and a Master of Laws degree (LL.M.) from Birbeck College, both part of the University of London. As a student, Isabel worked for members of Parliament in Westminster researching legal reforms with an emphasis on intellectual property rights. After being called to the Bar of England and Wales, UK, she volunteered and represented children with special needs and their parents who were fighting for education assistance from their schools.
To continue her international legal education and to practice in the United States, she studied for an LL.M. at the University of California, Irvine School of Law (UCI). At UCI she worked on human rights issues in legal clinics with Los Angeles attorneys and the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression. The U.S. Supreme Court recently decided one of the cases she worked on, Nestle’ USA, Inc. v. Doe I. After taking the California State Bar Exam, Isabel worked with the Children’s Law Center of Los Angeles and represented children in cases of abuse and neglect at the Juvenile Dependency Court.
To expand her expertise in the financial aspects of family law, Isabel is working toward a Master of Business Administration degree. This degree gives her valuable insight into the separation of business interests in a divorce.
Isabel is licensed to practice law in California and the United States District Court, Central District of California, as well as New York State.
Isabel speaks multiple languages and likes to use her language skills to connect with people. Her native language is German; she is fluent in English and conversational in French and Italian.
Calling San Diego home is a dream come true for Isabel. She spends as much time as possible exploring the coastline and the beautiful landscapes. She enjoys taking hip hop and ballet classes. You’ll also see her in the rare Southern California ice skating rink practicing her figure skating skills.
