COAST LAW - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- SENIOR LITIGATION PARALEGAL
Darlene has more than three decades of experience in the legal field. Early in her career she worked as a clerk for the San Diego Superior Court. Since then, she has worked in a variety of areas in both public and private sectors, including family law, criminal defense, civil litigation, estate planning, and probate. Throughout that time, Darlene has been instrumental in shaping the profession.
Darlene has been a frequent speaker at various paralegal programs in San Diego County. She was a Director of the Southwestern College Paralegal Program's Advisory Board. In 2007, she served as the San Diego Paralegal Association Programs (SDPA) and Education Chair. In 2008, she was the Vice President of Programs and Education for the California Alliance of Paralegal Associations. In 2010, she served as a Director for SDPA and Co-chair for Programs and Education. In 2010, Darlene received the San Diego Daily Transcript Paralegal Award. Along with her many contributions to the profession, Darlene has given back to the community by volunteering at domestic violence clinics and assisting with development of the homeless education program at the Monarch School.
Darlene enjoys spending time with her son and extended family.
Jen knew she wanted to help people from a young age. After considering a career in a medical field, she chose a different path that eventually led her to develop a pain management doctor's office new personal injury practice. After getting that practice up and running, she made the move to Coast Law Group's Personal Injury Team as a Case Manager where she enjoys helping each client with a personal touch. She literally goes the extra mile for our clients; just ask her!
Jen earned her bachelor's degree in Environmental Design from Syracuse University graduating cum laude while working for the Syracuse law School Dean of Alumni Relations. Moving to California from the East Coast in the late nineties was a big step, but she decided she wanted to enjoy everything the area had to offer from surfing to real Mexican food. On weekends you can find her rocking a slow jog with her dog on one of the local beaches, watching football, or racing outrigger canoes in the Pacific somewhere between San Diego and Santa Barbara.
Lianne is a case manager in the personal injury group. For as long as she can remember, Lianne has always been passionate about her community and helping others. Prior to joining CLG, she worked in immigration law with a focus on humanitarian cases for victims of abuse and trafficking, asylees, and refugees. Lianne is drawn to personal injury because it requires both dedication and diligence, as well as compassion to help victims. She considers representing clients as a privilege, and by treating each case like it's her own, she has been key to developing effective strategies for complex cases.
Lianne was born and raised in the island of Guam and moved to California to pursue a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Political Science. As a first-generation Filipina American, she is fluent in Tagalog.
In her free time, she enjoys yoga, traveling, and anything dog friendly.
Melissa graduated from California State University San Marcos with a bachelor's degree in Visual and Performing Arts in 2017. As an undergraduate student, Melissa volunteered for the school newspaper, The Cougar Chronicle. Melissa earned a place on the Dean's List in Fall 2015 and Spring 2016 for her academic achievements. After working in marketing for a couple of years after graduation, Melissa chose to change her career path. Melissa joined Coast Law Group in February 2020 as the personal injury intake coordinator. The experience Melissa gained working in the personal injury department of Coast Law Group helped her decide to become an attorney. Melissa is now a part-time law student at California Western School of Law and a recipient of the California Western Trustees' Scholarship. Melissa is an animal lover who enjoys hiking and swimming in her free time.
Thaisha Guitron is a San Diego native who grew up in Solana Beach, California. Before beginning her career in law, she worked as a Spanish Interpreter and medical receptionist for Children's Memorial Hospital and a group of orthopedic surgeons in Chicago, Illinois. In 2006, she took the knowledge and experience that she had gained in the medical field and applied it to her new career as a paralegal specializing in personal injury. In the years that followed, she helped start one of the largest personal injury law firms in Chicago from the ground up and served as its office manager until she decided to return home to Solana Beach, California in 2021.