About Us
Thomas M. Fischer
Thomas Fischer was born in Pennsylvania and moved with his family to Kasilof, Alaska just thereafter. During his youth, Thomas worked in the family-owned bakery. For his final semester of High School, he was accepted for a position as a page for the Alaska State House of Representatives in Juneau, Alaska. His travels and experiences include working in the commercial fishing industry in Alaska, college in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, working at art gallery and as a picture framer in Alaska and Boulder, Colorado, enlistment in the Nuclear Engineering program with the United States Navy in Orlando, Florida and Idaho Falls, Idaho, and a 14-year career in Information Technology in San Francisco, California.
Thomas graduated with his Bachelor’s degree from Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, California. He entered Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, California under an Intellectual Property Fellowship, and received his Juris Doctor in 2014 with a certification in Intellectual Property. During his attendance, Thomas studied International and Comparative Law at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China.
Thomas took a position as an Office Manager at a prominent family law firm immediately after taking the California Bar exam, and transitioned to fill a paralegal position. Upon notification of his entry into the Bar in 2015, he promptly began practicing family law. He has represented hundreds of clients in a wide array of Family Law cases.
Thomas’ broad and unique life, educational and professional experiences have distinctively positioned him to understand and address the importance and intricacies of each family law matter from start to finish.
Paula A. Phinney
Paula Phinney graduated from Santa Clara University School of Law and has been a licensed attorney with the California State Bar since 1996.
Over the years, Paula has represented hundreds of clients in dozens of courts throughout California, including civil, bankruptcy, criminal, immigration, federal, and family court. Since 2014 she has devoted her practice almost exclusively to family law cases in San Diego County. Paula has handled high conflict divorces, high asset/complex financial issues, military divorces, move away requests, custody, visitation, support, restraining orders and cross-border family law cases. Paula has also settled many cases, giving clients an honest assessment of whether a case favors resolution outside of court.
Paula has also worked with clients and opponents to reach amicable resolutions, enabling parties to plan for their lives after divorce with the least amount of stress and uncertainty possible.
Paula is licensed to appear in all state courts of California as well as the United States district courts for the Central and Southern districts of California. She is a member of the North County Bar Association, and has been an active member of the Fiorenzo Lopardo Inn of Court since 2008. Prior to settling in San Diego, Paula lived in the Philippines, Japan and Spain. She speaks Spanish and Tagalog.
