About Lissette
"We rise from lifting others."
- Robert G. Ingersoll
Lissette is sensitive to family structures, competent in serving diverse families, and committed to advocating and strategizing to meet the needs of her clients. Lissette values each individual and works diligently to see great outcomes for those she serves.
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Legal Education and Background
Lissette Jackson-Shepherd is Licensed to practice law in California (2015) and Florida (2011). Lissette graduated with honors in the top eight percent of her class from Florida A&M (FAMU) College of Law in 2011. Lissette served as the Executive Editor of the FAMU Law Review and received an International Human Rights Fellowship.
As an International Human Rights Fellow, Lissette had the unique experience of interning for the United Nations for two months at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in Arusha, Tanzania. Lissette received recognition for her participation in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition. Lissette received additional honors such as the Spirit of Service Award (by student vote) and selected to lead the prayer during the Class of 2011 School of Law commencement ceremony. Throughout her legal studies, Lissette experienced common child, custody, and visitation issues due to co-parenting from different states.
Social Work Education and Background
Lissette received a graduate degree in Social Work Administration in 1997 and an undergraduate degree in Sociology in 1995, both from the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington. Lissette graduated with honors from the school of social work and made the Dean’s List throughout her undergraduate education. Lissette was not a traditional student throughout her undergraduate, graduate, and legal studies. Lissette was a single mother who worked multiple jobs to support herself and her children during undergrad and graduate studies. Lissette was divorced and the mother of a young child during her legal studies.
Legal and Social Worker Experience
Lissette attended law school after over ten years of experience as a master’s level social worker serving children, youth, and families. While she enjoyed supporting families through crisis as a social worker, Lissette was drawn to study law in order to
expand her skills and her ability to advocate for the rights of families and children.
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Prior to establishing Shepherd Legal Advocates, Lissette’s experiences included mediating child custody and visitation disputes in Solano County, California; writing policies and procedures for child welfare agencies in Solano county and Marin county; training California social workers on legal procedure and legal document writing in child welfare; representing the Department of Children and Family Services in child abuse and neglect cases in Orange County, Florida. Lissette also worked as a supervisor and direct services social worker for the Division of Child Welfare Services in Solano County, California.
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"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
Maya Angelou