Katherine Elizabeth Mcclure

I was born in Bellflower, California in 1977. When I was 7 years old, my family moved to Ft. Collins, Colorado. I have two younger sisters, Molly and Megan, that live in Ft. Collins, currently. Molly works for the family business "Conahan's Driving School" and Megan is a special education teacher that works with autistic children. My parents, Rod and Ginny also live in Ft. Collins with their dogs Maxine and Annie.
 
When I was a child, I enjoyed Kung Fu San Soo, playing the piano and swimming. I received my black belt in martial arts when I was 14 years old. I also liked ballet, tap, clogging and holding magic shows for my family and friends. In high school, I became involved in cheerleading and eventually ended up cheering for Colorado State University while in college and then for the Denver Nuggets.
 
While attending Colorado State University, I lived in the Chi-Omega Sorority house, and also worked as a life guard, swim instructor, and a cheerleading instructor for Universal Cheerleading Association and Colorado Cheerleading Association. I also worked part time filing at a law firm and for State Representative Steve Tool doing an internship at the State Capitol. I graduated in 1999 from Colorado State University receiving a Bachelors in Arts and majoring in Speech Communications.
 
After graduating, I went to Topeka, Kansas to attend Washburn Law School. At Washburn, I participated in Moot Court, and was selected to travel to New York to represent the law school in a National Moot Court competition. The experience helped me acquire skills to become the lawyer I am today. The summer after my 1st year of law school, I went to King's College in London with my law school and learned about comparative law comparing the UK system to the US system. For myr third year of law school, I transferred to the University of Denver College of Law so I would be closer to my family. At DU I was involved in law journal and feels that experience helped transform my legal writing skills. I graduated from law school in May 2002.
 
I worked at the Law Offices of Matt Busch from 2002 to 2005 specializing in Workers Compensation and Social Security Disability. In May 2005, I started working at the Sawaya Law Firm where I currently practices Workers Compensation and Social Security Disability. In the last 3 years, I have also started practicing Veterans Administration Law. I became a managing partner in 2009 in which I manage the Social Security Disability Department and co-manage the Workers Compensation Department. I am Chair of the Colorado Bar Association, Disability Law Section. I am also is a member of the Workers Compensation Education Association and a member of the Professionals in Workers Compensation. In 2011 and 2012 I was named a Rising Star in 5280's Super Lawyers Magazine. 
 
On my free time, I enjoy traveling with my family, practicing yoga and playing my piano. I have traveled to China, Turkey, Russia, England, Scotland, Ireland, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. I am hoping to go to Spain for my next travel. I also enjoy attending movies, dinners and concerts with my family and friends.