Background

Hali grew up in Tennessee and graduated summa cum laude from Samford University in Alabama. She attended law school at UC San Francisco (Hastings), College of the Law, where she graduated cum laude. During law school, Hali served as a law clerk for federal and state government offices. She began working at the Ventura County Public Defender’s Office in 2016, where she remained for almost 10 years, aside from practicing family law from 2021-2023 and competing on the television show Survivor twice.

Hali’s passion and skill has earned the trust of her clients throughout her career. Hali has handled thousands of criminal and juvenile delinquency cases as well as family law cases involving complex custody disputes, domestic violence, and multi-million dollar assets. She has personally tried over 40 criminal jury trials to verdict and has handled many court trials in juvenile and family law cases. Not guilty verdicts and dismissals have resulted in criminal and juvenile cases including three-strike life cases, mayhem and assault causing great bodily injury, shootings, felonies with gang enhancements, sexual assault, domestic violence, driving under the influence, drug sales and possession, robberies, stabbings, attempted murder, and many other cases.

Hali has obtained favorable child custody and support results in multiple high-conflict divorce cases. She has obtained and defended against domestic violence and civil harassment restraining orders and also has experience in guardianship, adoption, and termination of parental rights matters.

Hali formed “Freedom Law 805” to protect clients’ rights and to advocate for their freedom—whether from physical jail walls and government overreach or the confines of an abusive relationship. The firm is deeply rooted in the “805” community, and Hali dedicates every Thursday morning to bettering our community on a volunteer basis through Freedom Law 805’s monthly free legal clinic and by leading faith-based discussion groups at our local correctional facilities.

Hali serves clients in English and Spanish.