$ 200-275 per hour
Riisa Petersen
also known as Riisa Petersen Mandel
About Riisa
Biography
Born and raised in El Centro, California, Riisa Petersen has dedicated her career to protecting the rights of her fellow Arizonans. The Justice System can be difficult to navigate alone, and after nearly a decade practicing law Riisa has built a reputation based on experience, determination, grit and an unwavering dedication to YOU, her client.
Riisa attended law school at Tucson's own James E. Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona. After graduation, she was immediately hired as a prosecutor in the Pima County Attorney's office, where she specialized in DUI and domestic abuse prosections. It was there that Riisa learned the "prosecutor's playbook."
In time, Riisa decided that her true desire was to defend the accused. She took her knowledge of the "prosecutor's playbook" and was immediately hired into a prominent Tucson firm in the private sector. For the last seven years, she has been working to defend the accused using her firsthand knowledge of prosecutorial tactics. Riisa knows what moves the prosecutor will make against you, making her better able to defend you against them. In addition to criminal defense, Riisa successfully built and managed the Family Law and Domestic Relations wing of the firm in which she became second in command. It would continue to thrive throughout her tenure.
Today, Riisa operates her own practice based on the respect, experience and reputation that she has earned in Tucson's legal community. Her philosophy is simple: YOU are her priority. Your defense is her duty and your right. When you retain the Petersen Law Firm, you won't end up with a nameless first year attorney. You get Riisa, every time.
Don't gamble your future on an "associate" attorney. Experience matters. As a successful trial attorney and litigator with firsthand knowledge on both sides of the criminal system and unparalleled leadership experience in family law, nobody is better prepared to defend your rights and fight for you and your family.
Practice Areas
8
Practice Areas
Fees and Rates
Cost
Hourly Rates
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Arizona for 19 years
State: Arizona
Acquired: 2006
Lawyer disciplined by state licensing authority in 2011
Location
Petersen Law Firm PLLC
485 S. Main Ave., Bldg 3, Tucson, AZ, 85701
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Riisa Petersen's Reviews
Showing 1 - 5 of 44 client reviews from Avvo
Posted by Erin | October 3, 2022 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Excellent Communicator
Rissa was an invaluable asset during a less than ideal situation. She was clear in all steps needed to be taken by all parties, always available to consult on options, and realistic about expectations. I would certainly use her and her team's services again and would recommend them to anyone seeking ...
Posted by anonymous | July 11, 2022 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Not by the book
My case was by the book divorce. However this attorney seemed to make a simple divorce into a huge money pit. Wasted extra time on filings and wasn't able to finish a simple divorce. Had to find a different lawyer. Poor representation, turn away and don't waste your money at this firm.
Posted by John | May 26, 2021 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Incompetent
Simple tax issue and change in child support based on established change in parenting time. She insisted on combining the issues which, along with allowing the other side to go months without communicating while she did nothing, dragged the case on for well over a year, costing me over $10,000 in chi...
Riisa Petersen
Replied last June 17, 2021Hi John! We are so sorry you were not satisfied with your case outcome. We strive to do our very best with every case. I am happy to go over what happened in the case with you and explain the trajectory of the case and the outcome. I hope you are well and feel free to give us a call anytime.
Posted by Stephan | March 4, 2020 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
Awesome
I had a mess of a child relocation case. Riisa and her staff were there for me during the entire process good or bad and explained to me how things worked and what steps were needed. Eventhough the initial case didn't go our way, she was still invested to help me get my case back to court with fav...
Posted by Maritza | October 28, 2019 | Hired Attorney
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
The best!!
Riisa is the best family law attorney. Her and her staff are professional and knowledgeable as well as considerate to our needs. My husband and I have utilized her services for the last 5 years and have been very happy with every outcome. Riisa knows her stuff and has always given us sensible and h...
Riisa Petersen's Lawyer Endorsements
"I have been practicing law since June of 2008 and was an Assistant City Prosecutor until June of this year. During this time I had numerous court appearances with Ms. Petersen as opposing counsel including several evidentiary hearings and at least one jury trial. Ms. Petersen has integrity, is respectful not only to other attorneys and the bench, but also to her clients. In my experiences, she is consistently a competent and zealous advocate for her clients. I have no hesitation in saying that I believe Ms. Petersen would be an excellent choice to assist with not only criminal matters but also with any family law issue that may need resolved."
"I went to law school with Riisa, and I know she is a great representative for DUI defendants and also in family law matters."
"Riisa is a fierce and talented lawyer - she represents her clients thoroughly and professionally in all areas. She is respected by her peers and appreciated by her clients because of the excellent work she does."
"Ms. Petersen is an excellent attorney and well respected in the community. I highly endorse Ms. Peterson. If you call me up looking for a family law attorney, I will more often than not send you her way!"
"Riisa is an excellent attorney. She fights hard for her clients, and I would recommend her without hesitation."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I fully recommend Riisa as an attorney and I have referred many clients to her. Riisa does an excellent job of advocating strongly for her clients while maintaining a positive and productive relationship with parties. She is a clear communicator and a very good listener. I will continue to refer clients to Riisa because I know she will focus on the issues that are important to her clients."
"Ms. Peterson is a strong but reasonable advocate. When I get her on the other side of a case I know there is a possibility of settlement prior to trial, and that always blesses the clients because there is a minimization to costs."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"Riisa is a talented trial attorney who works harder than most lawyers I know. She devotes incredible amounts of time to representing her clients and will go to court anytime it is necessary. She doe snot unnecessarily escalate conflict and works hard to minimize the damage to families. She has excellent people skills. I highly recommend consulting Riisa on any potential high-conflict cases."
"Riisa is an excellent attorney. She truly cares about her clients and works tirelessly to represent them. I am happy to refer my own clients and friends to her because I know she will take care to make sure they get the best representation."
"Riisa is hard working and passionate about her clients. She cares about her results and is a true believe in defending the rights of others. I fully recommend her."
"Riisa is an excellent, intelligent, aggressive attorney, and a kind person to boot."
"I endorse this lawyer."
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Experience
Professional misconduct
This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority in 2011.
Probation issued in AZ, 2011
updated on 01/04/2016Probation means an attorney did something wrong but may still practice law. The State monitors the lawyer's activities for a period of time in hopes that he or she will not repeat the behavior.
Honors
2016
Client's Choice Award, AVVO
Work Experience
2013 - Present
Managing Attorney, Petersen Law Firm PLLC
2007 - 2013
Attorney, Law Firm
Associations
National College of DUI Defense
Member
Sample of Legal Cases
Sullivan v. Sullivan
Win
Education
2006
University of Arizona College of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
2003
University of California - Santa Barbara
BA - Bachelor of Arts
Publications
Languages
English
Activity
Legal Answers