Hannah J. Engholm

Hannah J. Engholm received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, as a University of California Regent’s Scholar. She assisted in teaching “Introduction to Psychology” and “Psychology of Children in Extreme Circumstances” and was presented the Psychology Teacher of the Year Award in 2008.Ms. Engholm graduated Summa Cum Laude and was admitted into the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society.

Ms. Engholm simultaneously earned her Juris Doctor degree from California Western School of Law as a Trustee’s Scholar and her Master in Social Work degree from San Diego State University. Ms. Engholm served as a Senior Editor for the California Western International Law Journal and earned the California Western Law Review Outstanding Associate Award. Ms. Engholm received the highest grades possible in several law school courses, including Family Law, Criminal Procedure, Trusts and Estates, and Skills Training for Ethical and Preventative Practice. She assisted in teaching several law school core courses, including Criminal Procedure and California Civil Procedure. In 2013, she earned the Alex L Cory Award for Outstanding Pro Bono Service in recognition of her outstanding service to Pro Bono and Public Interest communities in San Diego and at California Western School of Law. Ms. Engholm was also chosen by the California Western faculty as a recipient of the Faculty Award in recognition of her significant and positive contributions to the law school. She graduated Magna Cum Laude in the top seven percent of her law school class and held a spot on the Dean’s list each possible semester.

During law school, Ms. Engholm volunteered with the Center for Community Solutions as a Cal-EMA certified Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Crisis Intervention Counselor as part of her legal internship. She assessed safety and legal needs of domestic violence survivors in crisis and prepared clients for court hearings regarding custody and domestic violence restraining orders. Additionally, Ms. Engholm helped connect clients to community resources for safe housing, counseling, childcare, and employment.

Ms. Engholm is also involved with local foster youth. She currently volunteers for San Diego’s Voices for Children, where she has been a Court Appointed Advocate (CASA) since 2010. As a CASA, Ms. Engholm mentors and advocates for a foster child in San Diego County. During law school, Ms. Engholm worked for the Alliance for Children’s Rights in Los Angeles as a Benefits Advocate for foster youth caregivers. She investigated denied entitled benefits for foster youth, negotiated with Los Angeles County officials, and appeared at administrative hearings on behalf of the caregivers.

Ms. Engholm joined Wilkinson & Finkbeiner as a certified law student through California Western’s clinical internship program.Ms. Engholm has experience with all family law issues, including dissolution of marriage, nullity of marriage, child custody and visitation, move-away requests, child support, spousal support, step-parent adoptions, and pre-marital agreements.

Ms. Engholm is a San Diego North County native and spends her free time hiking and mountain biking in the local mountains. She has run the San Diego Rock’n’Roll marathon numerous times and avidly participates in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.