Nicole Ortega is a dedicated family law attorney serving the San Francisco Bay Area who brings extensive experience in youth advocacy and dependency law to her comprehensive family law practice. She focuses on all areas of family law, including divorce and dissolution, child custody and visitation, domestic violence restraining orders, child support, and guardianship matters. Her unique background working with children and families in crisis provides her with invaluable insight into the complex dynamics that often underlie family law cases, allowing her to approach each matter with both legal expertise and deep empathy for families navigating difficult transitions.

Nicole's commitment to serving Bay Area families began early in her career when she served as a member and later Campus Representative for Bay Area JusticeCorps during college, providing direct assistance to self-represented litigants in family law matters at San Francisco's ACCESS Center. This foundational experience sparked her dedication to making legal services accessible and helping bridge the justice gap for individuals navigating the court system without representation.

Nicole earned her Juris Doctor from the University of California, College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings), where she distinguished herself academically by receiving two CALI Excellence for the Future Awards for achieving the highest grades in two Legal Research and Writing classes. She also served as a Teaching Assistant for Legal Research and Writing, demonstrating her commitment to academic excellence and mentorship. Nicole passed the California Bar Exam in July 2023 and has since dedicated her practice to serving Bay Area families in complex and sensitive family law matters.

During law school, Nicole gained comprehensive hands-on experience through multiple strategic externships and clerkships, including her judicial externship with the San Francisco Unified Family Court, where she drafted Findings and Orders After Hearing, prepared tentative rulings, and conducted in-depth research on complex family law issues including Marvin actions in divorce proceedings. She also served as a Certified Law Clerk at the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, appearing on behalf of youth clients in dependency proceedings and guardianship hearings, and completed clerkships with Legal Services for Children and the San Mateo County Counsel's Office, where she gained experience in juvenile dependency law, employment law, and civil procedure. This diverse practical experience, all involving service to Bay Area families and children, provides her with unique strategic advantages when advocating for clients in family court proceedings and demonstrates her longstanding dedication to supporting local families and individuals through the legal system.

Her experience as a Staff Attorney at the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley after law school focused on education law, youth advocacy, and dependency law. She represented children and families in complex legal proceedings including special education matters, school discipline cases, and IEP advocacy. This specialized background in education law—which encompasses student rights, due process protections, and advocacy for vulnerable populations—translates directly to her family law practice, providing her with a distinctive understanding of how legal proceedings impact children and families. Her experience navigating the intersection of educational institutions, child welfare systems, and family dynamics enables her to provide holistic representation that considers the best interests of all family members, particularly children affected by divorce, custody disputes, and family transitions.

Whether representing parents in contentious dissolution matters or custody disputes, helping domestic violence or violent crime survivors obtain protection, or advocating for children's best interests, Nicole provides compassionate yet aggressive legal representation that prioritizes client empowerment and family stability. Her practice philosophy emphasizes collaboration, clear communication, and strategic advocacy that addresses both immediate legal needs and long-term client goals, while her youth advocacy background ensures she always considers the impact of family legal proceedings on children and works to achieve outcomes that serve the best interests of all family members.