Newsom, Serena M.

Serena M. Newsom obtained her Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology, cum laude, from the University of Pittsburgh in 1987 and her Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1990.  She has been admitted to practice before the state courts of Pennsylvania, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania in November of 1990. Following her graduation from law school, and prior to commencing her practice of law, Ms. Newsom served a one-year term as Law Clerk to former Indiana County judges, President Judge W. Parker Ruddock and Judge Robert Early.   Ms. Newsom has practiced family since the fall of 1991, and with this firm since May of 1993.  Ms. Newsom, now a principal with the firm, has had the honor of arguing several family law cases through the appellate court system, including a case before the highest Court in Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, where she was successful on her appeal.

Ms. Newsom is a member of the Allegheny and Pennsylvania Bar Associations and the Family Law Section of each of these organizations.   Ms. Newsom was an elected member of the ACBA Young Lawyers Section Council for two (2) years, during which time she lectured on Family Law at the annual "Law Practicum" designed for new bar admittees.  Ms Newsom has also served as Member of the Bench Bar Committee for two (2) years; Member of the Matrimonial Inns of Court; Member of the ACBA Public Service Committee, for whom she volunteered for several years as a presenter of the Fairy Tales & Nursery Rhymes "law" program sponsored by local elementary schools and the "Law Mini Course", sponsored by the City of Pittsburgh high schools, in which she taught family law and discussed current family law issues with high school students, and has been elected as a member of the ACBA Family Law Section Council.

Ms. Newsom has also served as a local, county and district coordinator for the Young Lawyers Section-sponsored Pennsylvania Statewide High School Mock Trial Competition, as well as serving as "judge" for Mock Trial and Appellate Moot Court competitions at both the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University Schools of Law.