Laura J. Hansen

Laura J. Hansen founded LJ Law, LLC, formerly associated with Just Law, in 2010 because she perceived a need for a different type of law firm that was family-focused and resolution-oriented. Laura is the managing attorney of LJ Law, LLC, and currently focuses on managing the law firm and assisting her attorneys with strategy and case management. She also does litigation consultant work for individuals and attorneys. Laura represents a limited number of clients in full litigation and collaborative law cases.

Laura has been practicing divorce and family law since 2004. Prior to starting her current firm in 2009, she worked as a State Attorney for the Office of Guardian ad Litem for 5 years, representing abused and neglected children and children in high-conflict divorces. She has continued as a court-rostered Private Guardian ad Litem advocating for children since then. Laura has a degree in Psychology and extensive training and experience with complex assets, mediation, child development, alienation, abuse and neglect, trauma, domestic violence, and personality disorders. This experience makes her uniquely qualified to advise on strategy and oversee complex cases in a way that keeps clients’ and children’s mental health at the forefront.

Laura has been the Vice President of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) since 2023 and acted as the Secretary for the 2 years prior to that. She is a founding member of the Utah Chapter of the AFCC, which is a non-profit focused on training professionals who work with families in the Court system, such as attorneys, mediators, judges, special masters, therapists, custody evaluators, etc. Laura is also a board member of the non-profit organization Wasatch Kids Camps, which focuses on providing outdoor experiences to children from all backgrounds.

EDUCATION & TRAINING:

2004 Juris Doctorate, Brigham Young University School of Law
2000 Bachelor of Science, Political Science, Summa Cum Laude, University of Utah
2000 Bachelor of Science, Psychology, Summa Cum Laude, University of Utah
2007 Basic Mediation Training, Utah State Courts
2009 Advanced Domestic Mediation Training, Center for Advanced Mediation Studies
2012 Collaborative Law Training, International Association of Collaborative Professionals

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS:

Utah State Bar Association, Member
Washington Bar Association, Member
Snohomish County Bar Association, Member
Utah State Bar Family Law Section, Member
Utah State Bar, Dispute Resolution Section
Association of Collaborative Professionals of Utah
International Association of Collaborative Professionals
Association of Family and Conciliation Courts
Utah State Bar LGBT and Allied Lawyers

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION:

“10” Expertise Rating on Avvo
Expertise, Best Family Lawyers in Salt Lake City
Lead Counsel Rating in Family Law
American Institute of Family Law Attorneys 10 Best for Client Satisfaction
Thomson Reuters Super Lawyer
Elite Lawyer Award
Pro Bono Honor Roll, Utah State Bar Association

ELECTED POSITIONS:

Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, Utah Chapter: Vice President, 2023-current
Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, Utah Chapter: Secretary, 2019-2023
Association of Collaborative Professionals of Utah, President, 2019
Association of Collaborative Professionals of Utah, President-Elect, 2018

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS:

Presenter at the annual Association of Family and Conciliation Courts Southern Utah Symposium in St. George, Utah, on “Is the GAL Biased or Just Doing Their Job.”

Presenter at the annual Association of Family and Conciliation Courts Annual Training and Conference regarding ACES and the impact of litigation trauma on children and families, and a panelist presenter on Best Practices from the Office of Guardian ad Litem, October 2025

Presenter at National Bar Institute seminar on Advanced Topics in Family Law, Navigating Complex Asset Cases, June 2024

Presenter, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts Annual Training and Conference, Private Guardian ad Litem Training & Family Law 101, Fall of 2021, 2023, 2024

Presenter, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts Annual Training and Conference, Advertising and Marketing Ethics for Attorneys and Mental Health Professionals, February 2020

Presenter, Utah Family Law Section Continuing Legal Education Series, The Future of Collaborative Law in Utah, January 2015

Presenter, Utah CASA Conference, Education Advocacy for Court Appointed Special Advocates, October 2012

PRO BONO ACTIVITIES:

Founder and Member of non-profit, Utah Chapter of Association of Family & Conciliation Courts
Utah State Office of Guardian ad Litem, Pro bono attorney
Family Law Clinics hosted by the Legal Aid Society of Utah and the U of U Pro Bono Initiative, Volunteer
Tuesday Night Bar Volunteer Clinic hosted by the Utah State Bar
Founder and Board Member of non-profit Wasatch Kids Camps Summer Camps
Utah Arbor Day Foundation Volunteer

PERSONAL

Laura was born and raised in South Jordan and still enjoys a close relationship with her parents and brothers and sisters, who all live nearby. Laura loves to travel and has spent time living in Portland, Boston, California, Honolulu, Budapest, and Mexico. Laura has personal experience as a step-parent and with divorce. She is currently a single mom and lives in Daybreak with her two teenage children; her Yorkie/Bichon Frise dog, Lexi; and her two cats, Miso and Cedar. Some of Laura’s favorite places in the world that she has traveled to or lived in include Maui, Kauai, Rome, Venice, Budapest, Yachats, OR, Arcata, CA, and St. George, UT. Laura enjoys canyoneering, coffee, rock climbing, swing dancing, mountain biking, pottery, skiing, horseback riding, whitewater rafting, roller coasters, summer travel camps with large groups of kids, Thai food, road trips, Sunday pot roast dinners, Rook card games, big trees, her backyard creek, and yoga