Minella Law Group, APC

Kathy Minella (Founding Attorney)

Kathy Minella moved to San Diego from Chicago in 2007, to begin her career as an attorney at the California Western School of Law. While in law school Kathy volunteered at the Madge Bradley domestic violence clinic where she discovered her passion for helping people through the divorce process. She immediately knew that she wanted to practice family law and made that her goal. She finished her accelerated program in 2.5 years and immediately took the bar, passing on the first try. Kathy has practiced family law exclusively since graduating law school in 2010, starting at the largest family law firm in Northern San Diego County. She then transitioned to a smaller boutiques law firm where she was brought in to run the family law department.

After two years of it became apparent there were more ways to help people, Kathy decided to open the doors of Minella Law Group established in January 2014. Minella Law Group, APC, is a woman run and worked law firm focusing exclusively on family law matters including family formation and adoption. With a focus on client centered representation, Minella Law Group specializes in bringing finality to families whether through negotiation or litigation.

Kathy then focused on excellency in practice and became a Board-Certified Family Law Specialist in 2016, passing the rigorous exam and application process due to her dedication to family law. Kathy is committed to bringing the most up to date information to her clients by taking hundreds of hours in courses including Minor’s Counsel, mediation, domestic violence, and other applicable topics. Kathy has handled hundreds if not thousands of contested and uncontested family law matters all over San Diego County. Kathy also serves on the panel for minor’s counsel, she is often appointed by the court to serve as attorneys for children going through divorce or conflict in custody battles. In her service she provides the court with information to prevent danger of irreparable harm to children.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her two boys and husband. She can often be found out in her garden teaching the boys to grow fruit and vegetables. Kathy is also very passionate about rescuing dogs and had been the proud mom to several rescue dogs over the years.

Certifications

• Certified Family Law Specialist, State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, 2017

Honors and Awards

• Selected to Super Lawyer: 2023
• Selected to Super Lawyer Rising Star: 2019-2020
• Selected as the Attorney of the Month for August 2021 in the Attorney Journal, 2021

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Member of the San Diego Family Law Bar Association
• Member of the San Diego County Bar Association
• Member of the Minors Counsel Panel

Elizabeth Lefiti (Senior Supervising Attorney)

Elizabeth Lefiti is a graduate of Thomas Jefferson School of Law where she served as President of the Criminal Law Society and interned for two years with the San Diego County Public Defender’s Office. Elizabeth, a San Diego native, received her B.A. in Urban Studies with an emphasis on Crime and Society from San Diego State University.

Since admittance to the California State Bar in 2016, Elizabeth has exclusively practiced Family Law. She joined Minella Law Group in 2017 and has been fighting for client’s rights since. In 2022, Elizabeth became certified as a Family Law Specialist by the State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization.

Elizabeth’s practice includes all aspects of family law, domestic violence, guardianship, adoption, and assisted reproductive technology law. Primarily a trial attorney, Elizabeth welcomes complex and challenging cases and is never afraid of difficult issues. While Elizabeth excels in the courtroom setting, she encourages settlement if it promotes the best outcome for the client. Elizabeth has a passion for representing and advocating for clients in the courtroom and beyond.

Certified Legal Specialties

• Certified Family Law Specialist, State Bar of California, 2022

Honors and Awards

• Super Lawyers Rising Star 2021, 2022, and 2023

Professional Associations and Memberships

• San Diego County Bar Association – Family Law Section
• Section Leadership – New Attorney Member - 2019
• Section Leadership – Member at Large – 2020
• Section Leadership – Member at Large – 2021
• San Diego Family Law Bar Association

Julie O. Wolff (Senior Associate Attorney)

Julie Wolff began her legal career as a juvenile dependency, that experience taught her how to be a strong and compassionate attorney, both in the courtroom and out. She spent nearly five years working full-time for dependency parents and children.

When Child Protective Services are involved, it is crucial to have a skilled dependency attorney working for you. The same goes for a family law case where your time with your children are at risk.

Court-appointed attorneys often have over 200 clients per attorney in dependency case. Whether it’s a juvenile dependency case or a family law matter, Ms. Wolff will provide the time and attention necessary to ease your fears about the process and guide you to a successful resolution.

Areas of Practice

• Divorce
• Contested Divorce, Property Division, Same Sex Divorce, Spousal Support & Alimony, Uncontested Divorce
• Family Law
• Adoption, Child Custody, Child Support, Father’s Rights, Guardianship & Conservatorship, Paternity, Prenups & Marital Agreements, Restraining Orders, Same Sex Family Law
• Juvenile Dependency
• CACI Registration, Removal from child abuse central index
• Child Welfare
• Assisted Reproduction/Adoption
• Domestic Violence
• Domestic Violence Restraining Orders, Victims Rights

Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice

• California, since 2011

Education

• Pepperdine University
  
  • LL.M. (2017) | Dispute Resolution, 2010 – 2017
• California Western School of Law
  
  • J.D. (2010) | Trial Practice / Problem Solving, 2007 – 2010
  • Honors: Honors in Concentrations of Trial Practice and Problem Solving
    Activities: Deans List; Moot Court Honors Board; ABA Mediation Team; ABA Negotiation Team; Distinguished Advocate
• University of California – Santa Barbara
  
  • B.A. (1998) | Sociology, 1994 – 1998
  • Activities: NCAA Div. I Water Polo

Awards

• Work in the LGBTQ Community, Sac Legal, 2015 - Diversity award in recognition for work and support for the LGBTQ Community in Sacramento, California.

Professional Associations

• San Diego County Bar Association
  • Chair of Juvenile Law (2020)
  • Chair of Family Law (2019)
  • Activities: Very active member in the Family Law and Juvenile Law Sections. On the Diversity Committee and Covid-19 Task Force.
• Lawyers Club of San Diego
  
  • Board Member, 2019 – 2021
  • Activities: Co-Chair of LGBTQ Committee and Human Trafficking Sub-Committee, 2024-2025 Board Member THLA

Publications

• Challenges to Civility in a Time of Inequality, San Diego Lawyer Magazine / 2019, “For Richer or Poorer, In Sickness and in Health: For the Love of Pets” written by Julie O. Wolff (SD Lawyer, May/June 2019).
• “Civility in the Face of Discrimination” written by Julie Wolff (SD Lawyer, Nov/Dec 2019)
  San Diego Lawyer November/December 2019 by San Diego County Bar Association – Issuu
• Collaborative interview regarding being a Solo Attorney w/ Julie, Deborah Wolfe, Kim Swieraga, Eric Ganci and others – also put out on podcast (SD Lawyer, Nov/Dec 2018)
• San Diego Lawyer November/December 2018 by San Diego County Bar Association – Issuu

Speaking Engagements

• Dispute Resolution in the Juvenile Delinquency Restorative Justice System, Southern California Mediation Conference, Los Angeles, California, 2016
• Southern California Mediation Association, Dispute Resolution in the Juvenile Delinquency Restorative Justice System

Certifications

• Child Welfare Legal Specialist, National Association of Counsel For Children, 2016

Jasmin Dimson (Associate Attorney)

Jasmin Dimson is a cum laude graduate of UC Law, San Francisco, formerly known as UC Hastings, College of the Law. Throughout law school, Jasmin served as a Summer Law Clerk at the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, a Legal Extern at Legal Services for Children, and a Family/Domestic Violence Law Research Assistant to Professor Kelly Weisberg. Prior to this, she received her undergraduate degree from UC Santa Cruz, with a bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies, while serving as a NCAA student-athlete.

After graduating law school in 2021, Jasmin served as a Post-Bar Law Clerk to the Honorable Sean P. Dabel, a then family court judge for the San Mateo County Superior Court in California. It was throughout this time she discovered her passion for family law. Moreover, her judicial clerkship provided her with invaluable experience allowing her to observe a multitude of family law issues, gain insight into the mind of a judge, and perfect her research and writing skills.

Since her admittance to the state bar, Jasmin has practiced solely in family law and exclusively at Minella Law Group. She has gained significant experience in all aspects of family law thus far. Jasmin especially prides herself on being extremely detail oriented and ensuring clients understand all aspects of their case.

Jasmin is a California native who has lived up and down the golden state. However, she is happy to call San Diego home. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, golfing, hiking, and catching a sunset at the beach.

Cary Grant (Associate Attorney)

Cary Grant is a graduate from Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law. Throughout law school, Cary served as a Summer Law Clerk in Los Angeles dependency court with Los Angeles Dependency Lawyers and Children’s Legal Center, and as a Law Clerk in the Bette & Wylie Aitken Domestic Violence Clinic. Prior to this, she received her undergraduate degree from UC San Diego, with a bachelor’s degree in Theatre and a minor in Law and Society.

After graduating law school in 2022, Cary began working with Minella Law Group as a Post-Bar Law Clerk, solidifying her passion for family law. Since her admittance to the state bar, Cary has practiced solely in family law and exclusively at Minella Law Group.

Though raised in Los Angeles, Cary has considered San Diego home since attending UC San Diego. When Cary can find some free time, she enjoys spending time with her dog, family and friends.