Laura J. Hansen

Laura J Hansen founded LJ Law, LLC, (formerly associated with Just Law) in 2010 because of her perceiving a need for a different type of law firm that was family focused and trauma informed.

Laura has been practicing divorce and family law for over 20 years. Prior to starting her current firm, she worked as a State Attorney working 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 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 client’s and children’s mental health at the forefront.

Laura has been the Vice President of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) for the past 3 years 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 int he 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 in Good Standing
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

Utah Association of Conciliation Courts, Secretary 2017

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 Annual Training and Conference, regarding ACES and 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 NCBI training in Spring 2025 regarding High Asset and Complex Divorce Lititation.

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 Educations 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
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 was raised in the LDS religion. but is not currently practicing. 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 children, her Yorkie/Bichon Frise dog, Lexi, her two cats, Miso & Cedar and rabbit, Meadow. She has recently gotten back into rock climbing, dancing and mountain biking. Some of Laura’s favorite places in the world that she has traveled to or lived at 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.