Admitted Missouri bar, 1994
Admitted Illinois bar, 1995
PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT
2012 – current
Kiske Law Office, LLC, Attorney and Owner. I represent clients in all phases of litigation involving all types of child custody issues, including but not limited to dissolution of marriage, minor guardianship, paternity, adoption, modification, and issues involving DFS/CDs. Other areas of my litigation practice include traffic, minor criminal, and municipal offenses. I am responsible for all stages of the litigation – from meeting with the clients, to drafting initial pleadings, to discovery, to motions practice, to trial and post trial motions. I use a mediation training program with all clients who are required to participate in mediation because it results in increased settlement of disputes with de-escalation of conflict. Supervise paralegal and other staff. Mediation and GAL work as appointed.
2006 – 2012
Earnshaw-Hobbs Law Firm, PC, Attorney. Domestic litigation attorney. I represented clients in all phases of litigation involving dissolution of marriage, minor guardianship, paternity, adoption, and modification matters. Other areas of my litigation practice included traffic, minor criminal, and municipal offenses. I was responsible for all stages of the litigation – from drafting initial pleadings, to discovery, to motions practice, to trial and post trial motions. I developed a mediation training program for all clients who are required to participate in mediation that has resulted in increased settlement of disputes with de-escalation of conflict. Supervise paralegal and other staff. Mediation and GAL work as appointed.
2008 – current
Missouri Western State University, Adjunct Professor. I am an adjunct instructor with responsibilities in the Criminal Justice/Legal Services Department. I develop class presentations that integrate the academic theories into real life applications.
2004 – 2006
Department of Social Services, State of Missouri, Division of Legal Services. Attorney
1998 – 2001
I began in the Independence, MO office as one of a team of eight attorneys representing Children’s Division and Division of Youth Services in the capacity of Permanency Planning and Protective Services Attorney, with an emphasis on litigation and compliance. I met with social workers, supervisors and DSS managers to coordinate and facilitate compliance with federal and state statutes and regulations, and to develop case goals and litigation strategies for cases. I interfaced with community resources including Children’s Mercy Hospital staff, private counsel, private corporations and individuals related to my litigation of Children’s Division cases. I developed and implemented a “Training to Testify” program for social workers and other employees of the Children’s Division. I did legal research and writing in the child welfare area. I facilitated a multi-level study of final case outcome with attorney involvement that was used by the DSS General Counsel to obtain additional funding from the State Legislature. I mentored law students in the clinic program from UMKC. I also provided immediate legal/litigation advice and support on a case by case basis, such as review of subpoenas and advice regarding client contact with outside counsel.
I transferred to the St. Joseph, Missouri office in 2004. This office was a one-attorney office, which meant my assignment, in addition to litigation and immediate legal support before administrative bodies included networking with multiple professionals and community members who worked with and/or provided services for the Children’s Division offices located in the northern 24 Missouri counties. In this position I was able to provide proactive, client-focused legal advice and litigation support to Children’s Division on a broad range of legal issues. I litigated all phases of child welfare cases from initial referral for services up to and through termination of parental rights; I developed strategies and procedures for individual CD offices to ensure compliance with State and Federal law in the area of child welfare; I provided advice and response to privacy/confidentiality inquiries and concerns; and I was immediately available for consultation with Children’s Division employees regarding emergency child welfare issues, compliance issues, subpoenas served, records requests, litigation assistance, assistance in interfacing with the attorney for the juvenile office and other attorneys, and additional duties as required. I continued the implementation of my training program to assist social workers in learning to testify, and I developed an additional program designed to educate social workers in case compliance requirements, testimony skills, and courtroom etiquette. At times I would return to the Independence office team to assist with the litigation on more difficult cases pending in both offices. I conducted legal research as needed. In addition I was asked to develop written opinions to be used by the DSS General Counsel in work with the State Legislature regarding issues affecting the overall policies of Children’s Division. I was responsible for supervising legal secretary and law students.
2002 – 2004
Attorney, private practice. I worked as appointed guardian ad litem for various judges in Jackson and Johnson counties, Missouri. I contracted with Department of Social Services as part-time Attorney through Division of Legal Services with litigation responsibilities as outlined above. I worked on an ad-hoc basis for a number of private solo attorneys who needed an attorney to cover dockets and provide additional litigation assistance.
2001 – 2002
National American University, Instructor – Undergraduate Business Law evening class.
1994 – 1998
Missouri State Public Defender System. Attorney. I represented indigent criminal defendants charged with criminal activity in all stages of criminal proceedings as the only state defender assigned to Scott County Missouri, and subsequently as a member of the defense team handling conflict cases from Jackson County Missouri. Criminal defense work involves extensive litigation which includes: client contact, witness interview, crime scene investigation, issuance of subpoenas, attendance at all required court appearance including probable cause hearings, pre-trial motions hearing, trial and post-trial motions hearings. Research and writing was also an ongoing litigation tool. I trained new attorneys who joined the offices.
EDUCATION
1991 – 1994
Washington University School of Law, St. Louis, Missouri. J.D. Graduating rank: top 25% of class. Awards: American Jurisprudence Award for Administrative Law.
1986 – 1989
Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, Illinois. B.A. History, minor Economics. Summa Cum Laude. GPA: 3.97/4.0
2000
Guardian ad Litem certification
2002
Mediator Certification, Johnson County Community College
VOLUNTEER
2007-present
Children’s Advocacy Center of Northwest Missouri. Fundraiser. I produce and coordinate an annual holiday benefit concert as a fundraiser for the Children’s Advocacy Center. I identify and recruit musicians and artists. I identify and obtain advertising resources. I identify funding sources and recruit those sources to provide sponsorship.
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