Linnea Nicole Willis

Linnea N. Willis was born and raised in Sacramento, California.  She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Gonzaga University in 1999.  She was appointed to the Board of Regents by the President and served two years on the Board of Regents, she served as the President of the Black Student Union for three of her four years, and was very active in campus leadership.  Linnea N. Willis was awarded the Philomathea Most Outstanding Woman Graduate of her class award.

Linnea N. Willis thereafter received a full tuition merit scholarship to attend Santa Clara University School of Law.  She was selected to serve on the Law Review as a Comments Editor and also participated in Honors Moot Court and Honors Moot Court Board.  She was the President of the Black Law Student Union and also the Western Regional Director for the National Black Law Students Association.  She received an Excellence in Legal Research and Writing award, the AmJur Award for the best grade in her Corporations class, the CalJur Award for the second best grade in her Torts class, and achieved many other honors.  Ms. Willis also served as a Research Assistant to two law professors, and served as a teacher in the Academic Success Program.  She graduated with a 3.7 GPA in the top 12% of her class.  She was nominated the Most Outstanding Graduate of her class.  Ms. Willis obtained her Juris Doctor in 2002.

Although she has the credentials to work in a large law firm, Ms. Willis learned early on in her experience at Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe that she wanted more responsibility as a young attorney.  After working for a solo practitioner and a small firm, Ms. Willis started the Law Office of Linnea N. Willis in January 2005.

In addition to practicing law, Ms. Willis is also the Head of the Paralegal Studies Department at Merritt College, and has been teaching various classes since the Fall of 2004, including Legal Research, Civil Procedure & Litigation, Law Office Management, Criminal Law, Family Law, Estate Planning & Probate Procedure and Internship classes.

Linnea N. Willis is very active in the legal community and on various boards.  She has served on the Board for the California Association of Black Lawyers consistently since April 2003.  In addition, she has served on the Board of the charles Houston Bar Association as Young Lawyers Chair and Community Service Director.  Further, she has served on the National Bar Association in the Real Estate Section, and the Young Lawyers Division.

Ms. Willis is further very active in the community.  She participates in many outreach programs for youth mentorship, and sponsors various non-profit events and organizations.  Ms. Willis further participates in free legal clinics in the community.  She is the head of the Young Adult Ministry at her Church in Oakland, California and sings in the Choir.