SOYARS & MORGAN LAW, P.C. - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- DWI & Criminal Defense Lawyer
With hundreds of misdemeanor DWI cases under her belt, Ashley is a fierce attorney. Ashley's ability to communicate to juries and obtain excellent results for her clients has been recognized as a 2018, 2019, and 2020 Best of San Antonio Finalist by the San Antonio Current. Ashley has also been recognized by SA Scene as a top DWI lawyer. She believes that an attorney-client relationship should be just that: a relationship. Having been more than just a student and then an attorney, Ashley has the ability to empathize with her clients, which is often overlooked by attorneys rushing to get a case disposed. Ashley works hard to prepare a powerful and winning defense for you.
Carla Ozuna is one of the firms up and coming superstars. Carla was named Head of the Family Law section in November of 2021. Carla's legal practice focuses on helping our clients resolve complicated divorce and child custody cases.
Having been raised by a single parent and having been divorced and a single parent herself, Carla understands how difficult the process of a divorce and child custody case can be, and enjoys navigating clients through each challenge and toward a brighter future. Carla is best known by her colleagues for her strong work ethic and diverse real world experiences that give her an extremely unique ability to successfully advocate for her clients.
Carla graduated from high school in the top 10% of her class. While attending high school, she worked in the legal department for JAG (Air Force's Judge Advocate General's Corporation), helping to process claims. She was instrumental in getting over a million dollars in claims recouped. She created her own system for data entry, which they went on to use for years.
Carla went on to attend undergrad at St. Mary's University where she graduated early with a double-major in economics and philosophy. During this time period, Carla was also working full-time to help pay for her education.
Carla went on to work for the Department of Family Protective Services (DFPS), often referred to as CPS (Child Protective Services), as an investigator. She was responsible for overseeing over 100 active cases at a time. Her work at DFPS allowed her to see firsthand how the department operates and how to effectively help clients facing the very scary and overwhelming accusations that could result in their children being removed from their home.
Carla also worked in the courts as a juvenile probation officer. This experience allowed her to see the obstacles families face with their young adult children when their child is accused of committing a crime or violating a school ordinance.
Her work at both DFPS and as a juvenile probation officer is an extremely rare combination of experience that provides Carla a unique perspective as a family law attorney and allows Carla to successfully advocate for her clients based off her inside knowledge of how the system works and what to expect.
Ultimately, Carla's career path led her to attend law school at St. Mary's University. During this time, Carla was also working full time to provide for her child as a single parent.
While attending law school, Carla interned at the Bexar County staff attorney's office. Staff attorneys work for the courts and provide legal advice to the judges on various legal questions that arise during a divorce or child custody case. Staff attorneys also help pro se litigants process their uncontested divorces through the court system by reviewing the documents and verifying that the legal papers in the case are in order before the pro se litigant presents the documents to the Court for signature. With this internship, Carla gained more experience in how the court system works and allowed her to make personal connections with numerous other staff attorneys in the Bexar County Courthouse.
After graduating law school, Carla went on to practice family law. Carla has handled over a hundred family law and civil litigation cases. She is a skilled trial attorney. Carla has represented mothers and fathers, focusing on complex, high-asset divorces, and fiercely contested custody disputes, enforcements, and modifications.
Carla believes that a successful outcome requires understanding and adapting to each client's individual goals. She also believes that an attorney must be over prepared to zealously advocate her client's position in a courtroom. Carla's life experiences and hard work have yielded her significant success in her time at Soyars & Morgan Law.
Carla knew she was destined to be a lawyer, with a heart for wanting to help people and affect change. Her godmother affectionately told this story at her law school graduation. She said that Carla was arguing with her one day over something silly and said, "Look, I'm the adult. These are the rules. Too bad."
Job Titles:
- Criminal Law - Associate Lawyer
Erika Dinunzio was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. After graduating from Marymount University, in Virginia, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication, she moved to San Antonio where she then graduated Summa Cum Laude from St. Mary's University School of Law. While in law school, she made Harlen Society, which is top 10% of her class. Erika excelled at research and writing, being both a staff writer and editor in Journal.
Erika is excited to make a difference in her clients' lives by fighting for justice. She enjoys working with other professionals and has learned how to excel, support, and lead in a positive and productive team environment.
In her free time, she enjoys hiking with her husband and loving on her German Shepherd.
Job Titles:
- Criminal Defense & Family Law Lawyer
Jodi Soyars is an aggressive and experienced San Antonio trial lawyer. She has been recognized by the National Trial Lawyers as one of the Top 100 Criminal Law Attorneys, by Best DWI Attorney as one of the top 10 DWI Attorney's in San Antonio, and by the American Family Law Institute as one of the Top 10 Female Family Law Attorneys in San Antonio. While working to defend her client's freedom and careers in the criminal law courts, Jodi Soyars saw a need to help protect her client's rights to their children & property in the family law courts because many times a client was being falsely accused of a crime as a way for an aggrieved spouse to gain an advantage in the divorce and custody proceedings. If you find yourself facing a criminal accusation or need help protecting your rights to your children or property from an aggrieved spouse, contact Jodi Soyars today and let her help you.