Shawn is a Certified Family Law Specialist, certified by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.  She is an experienced family law litigator and certified mediator who devotes the majority of her practice to high-conflict custody and high asset family law matters. Shawn also devotes a significant amount of her practice to interstate and international custody disputes and is extremely well versed in the Uniform Child Custody and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA), the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA), and the Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act (PKPA). Shawn has litigated several interstate and international custody disputes including litigating jurisdictional and move away matters.  Shawn also works as a consultant to other professionals and attorneys to assist with interstate custody issues, as well as interstate and international discovery issues and domestication of subpoenas in the State of California.

Shawn has extensive experience working with individuals in crisis and helping clients effectively negotiate the psychological and emotional aspects inherent in family law issues. As an attorney mediator, she uses these skills to assist clients to reach resolutions outside of the courtroom.  Shawn earned her 40 hour Alternative Dispute Resolution certification as a Mediator. She encourages and skillfully assists parties to keep conflict low, in order to lessen the emotional and financial costs associated with negotiating divorce and custody issues; however, she has the ability to switch to direct and aggressive representation of her clients to protect their interests when it is necessary. 

Prior to starting Murphy Family Law, Shawn worked for over six years at a highly respected Lake Tahoe area law firm and also served as the supervising attorney for their family law department, overseeing and managing the firm's attorneys and staff dedicated to the area of family law.

As a resident of the North State for over 25 years, Shawn has successfully argued and tried cases before the Superior Courts of Butte, Tehama. Placer, Nevada, Plumas, Lassen, El Dorado, Sacramento, Alameda, Amador, Yolo, Modoc, and Solano Counties in the State of California.  She is particularly knowledgeable of the practices and procedures in the Tahoe region including Nevada, Placer, and El Dorado (South Lake) County Courts.

A graduate of University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, Shawn received her Juris Doctor (J.D.) with Distinction. After entering law school with honors, she earned distinction as a member of Phi Delta Phi legal honor society, and the Traynor Society for academic excellence.  She served on the board of editors of the Law Review and as the Chief Article Editor of Vol. 46 of the McGeorge Law Review. Her comment, The Supreme Court's Revitalization of the Dying "Existing Indian Family" Exception, was selected for publication in the journal.  Prior to law school Shawn earned her Master of Arts in Political Science, graduating in 2011 with Distinction and with a focus in International Relations. Shawn has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from California State University, Chico.

In alignment with her passion for giving back to her community, Shawn volunteers her time with multiple social welfare organizations. Some of her current activities include volunteering with the Chico Food Project, whose mission is to help supply local food banks, as well as being active with the Chico Chapter of Soroptimist International, an international philanthropic organization dedicated to advancing the lives of women and girls.  In her free time, Shawn enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, traveling, and spending time with her family, her dog and her three cats.

Education:

University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law – Sacramento, CA 

• Juris Doctor with Distinction 
• Chief Articles Editor, McGeorge Law Review, Vol. 46 
• Member of Phi Delta Phi and Traynor Society 

California State University Chico – Chico, CA 

• Master of Arts, Political Science, International Relations with Distinction
• Bachelor of Arts, Psychology

Professional Memberships:

• State Bar of California, Family Law Section, Member
• Association of Certified Family Law Specialists, Member

Past Professional Positions:

• Sacramento Superior Court, Family Law Division – Judicial Extern to the Honorable Judge Jaime Ramon
• Children's Law Center of California – Law Clerk and Intern
• California State University, Chico – Adjunct Professor, Political Science 

Community Activities:

• Soroptimist International of Chico 
  • Treasurer (2022-2023)
  • Treasurer Elect (2019-2022)
• Chico Food Project - Volunteer quarterly food pick up (2014-Present)
• One Day Divorce Clinic - Volunteer Forms Assistant (2013-2019)
• Catalyst  - Domestic Violence Crisis Counselor (2014-2016)
• League of Women Voters, Butte County - Voter Service Director (2014-2016)