Paisley S. Hoffman

Paisley S. Hoffman is a Senior Associate Attorney at Nicholson Goetz & Otis, S.C., representing clients throughout Wisconsin in criminal defense, juvenile, and family law matters. She is dedicated to helping individuals and families navigate some of life's most difficult legal challenges with thoughtful advocacy, careful preparation, and a commitment to achieving the best possible outcome under the circumstances.

Paisley's criminal defense practice focuses on serious felony cases, including child abuse allegations, sexual assault charges, homicide offenses, and firearm-related crimes. She represents both adults and juveniles and has significant experience handling juvenile waiver proceedings, where she advocates for young clients facing the possibility of transfer to adult court.

A substantial portion of Paisley's practice involves defending clients accused of abusive head trauma and shaken baby syndrome. Her work in this area began before law school with the Wisconsin Innocence Project, where she assisted in efforts to overturn wrongful convictions. These medically complex cases require a thorough understanding of child abuse pediatrics, evolving scientific research, and the legal issues surrounding serious physical abuse allegations.

Paisley also maintains a strong juvenile law practice, representing young people in delinquency proceedings, school expulsion hearings, and CHIPS matters. She is committed to helping children and families find solutions that support stability, accountability, and positive long-term outcomes whenever possible.

In addition to her criminal and juvenile practice, Paisley represents clients in family law matters involving divorce, paternity, custody, placement, and post-judgment disputes. She is frequently appointed by judges as Guardian ad Litem in Dane County and surrounding Wisconsin counties, serving as an advocate for the best interests of children involved in contested family law proceedings. Her experience in this role provides valuable insight when advising parents navigating custody and placement disputes.

Paisley holds a Master of Social Work with a concentration in mental health, a background that enhances her understanding of family dynamics and the personal challenges clients often face during legal proceedings.

Recognized for her work both inside and outside the courtroom, Paisley has been selected as a Wisconsin Super Lawyers Rising Star each year since 2020. She also serves as part-time faculty at Madison College, where she teaches Legal Writing and Family Law in the paralegal program. In recognition of her trial advocacy, she has received both the Hanson Memorial Advocate's Prize for successfully trying homicide cases and the Kuchler-Nicholson-Stilling Award for successfully trying sexual assault cases.