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SHELLY JEAN JOHN

Shelly Jean John

Meet Shelly Jean John, Founding Attorney

I’m Shelly Jean John, the founding attorney of the Law Office of Shelly Jean John, and I’ve practiced family law in Southern California since 1998. I opened my own firm in 2000 and now serve clients from offices in Ontario and Riverside.

Over more than 25 years, I’ve focused my practice on divorce, child custody, support, and other family law matters. I’m also a trained mediator; I’ve completed Interdisciplinary Collaborative Training with SCPG, and I serve as President of East-West Family Law Counsel.

My goal has always been to help and empower people during some of the hardest seasons of their lives. Whether you need full representation or guidance on a single issue, I’ll help you find a practical way forward.

My Path to Family Law

I’ve always had a passion for helping and empowering others. After earning my undergraduate degree in Communications and Political Science, I was drawn to the challenges and opportunities of a legal career and decided to pursue it wholeheartedly.

I graduated from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 1998 and was admitted to the California State Bar that same year. Through my education and years of practice, I’ve felt time and again that this work is my calling.

We’re all here to impact humanity in our own way. For me, that means standing beside individuals and families who are going through a hard time and helping them reach their next chapter.

My Education and Credentials

My training combines a strong academic foundation with additional credentials that expand the ways I can serve clients. Here’s an overview of my background:

  • Juris Doctor: The University of San Francisco School of Law, 1998

  • Bachelor of Science: Communications and Political Science, Northern Arizona University, 1995

  • Bar admission: California State Bar, 1998

  • Mediation training: Trained mediator

  • Collaborative practice: Interdisciplinary Collaborative Training with SCPG

  • Professional leadership: President of East-West Family Law Counsel

I became a trained mediator and completed collaborative training to offer clients more options than traditional litigation alone. Today, those credentials support the out-of-court approaches I use to help families resolve their disputes.

My Approach to Resolving Disputes

I love helping people come up with creative, outside-the-box solutions that fit their unique needs. Over more than two decades, I’ve helped clients work through mediation and collaborative divorce to resolve their issues out of court.

Mediation

Mediation brings both parties together with a neutral mediator to communicate, identify priorities, and work toward agreements. It’s often a more private and less adversarial way to settle disputes involving divorce, custody, and support.

Collaborative Divorce

Collaborative divorce is a cooperative process in which both spouses commit to resolving their issues without going to court. My Interdisciplinary Collaborative Training with SCPG prepared me to work alongside professionals from other disciplines to help families reach agreements outside the courtroom.

Not every case can be resolved through these approaches, and I’m honest with clients when that’s the situation. When litigation is necessary, I’m prepared to provide full representation and advocate for you and your family in court.

My Service Options

Every family’s situation is different, so I offer varying levels of legal service to fit both your needs and your means. You choose the service that works best for your situation, including:

  • Full representation: Comprehensive handling of your case from start to finish.

  • Mediation: Out-of-court discussions focused on reaching mutual agreements.

  • Unbundled or limited scope: Help with specific parts of your case while you handle the rest.

  • Lawyer For a Day: Short-term legal help for a specific need in your case.

  • Legal coaching: Ongoing guidance and strategy as you move through your case.

  • Paralegal services: Support with paperwork and document preparation.

This flexibility lets you decide how much support you want and how much of the process you’d like to manage yourself. If you’re unsure which option fits, we can talk it through during your consultation.

My Family Law Practice Areas

No matter what brings you to my firm, I put my experience to work in the best interest of you and your family. The types of family law cases I handle include:

  • Divorce and partnerships: Divorce, domestic partnerships, and issues related to same-sex relationships.

  • Children and parenting: Child custody and visitation (parenting plans), paternity, guardianships, and step-parent adoptions.

  • Financial support: Child support and spousal support.

  • Property and agreements: Property division and prenuptial agreements.

  • Post-judgment issues: Enforcement of judgments and post-judgment modifications.

Family law issues are deeply personal, and each one affects your future in its own way. I’ll take the time to learn your circumstances and help you weigh your options before you make important decisions.

My Commitment to Southern California Families

If you’re facing a family law issue, don’t wait to get a compassionate advocate in your corner. I’ll be honest with you about the outlook of your case and work with you toward a resolution that supports you and your family.

I serve clients throughout Southern California from my offices in Ontario and Riverside, including families in Corona, Eastvale, and Norco. You can also connect with the firm on LinkedIn to follow updates from my firm. Reach out today to schedule a free phone consultation, and let’s get started on your case.