Burger joints, hip shoe stores, and even skating rinks are typical jobs for high-schoolers. But on the Big Island of Hawai‘i, working alongside your mom at a law firm is the perfect seed planted for a lifetime journey of community support. Born and raised in Hilo, Hawai‘i, Lori once aspired to become a lawyer. She imagined shaping justice right in the courtrooms. And though she doesn’t carry the title of lawyer today, she still finds her heart close to justice through the detailed work of a paralegal. 

Through Lori’s junior and senior years of high school, she was a sponge soaking up the law and helping attorneys keep track of the endless flow of paperwork. She absorbed it all, and over time, her careful eye and steady reliability were recognized. After graduating, Lori was selected for a job training program that provided her with the opportunity to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to work as a court clerk. What started as administrative work in the legal space soon evolved into something more meaningful.

“I always believed that information is something that gives you power and helps people understand what needs to be done.”

Lori eventually transitioned into new opportunities, where her talents brought her to work in personal injury, bankruptcy, and family law firms. Yet, her roots as a court clerk began to peak again, and she found herself in a familiar place by pivoting to become a family court filing clerk. 

“Knowing you know the answers, but being very limited in the type of information that we can provide to them, was really difficult for me.”

However, by 2018, after years of managing documents, understanding court processes, and intricately connecting the dots, Lori felt compelled to do more. She wanted to make a greater impact in her community. Fate has a way of showing up in our choices, and for Lori, she soon found a sense of belonging at the Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i (Legal Aid) as a Social Security Advocate.

Being a Social Security Advocate, her reach was now more expansive, enabling her to help the community even more. Through Lori’s hard work and commitment at Legal Aid, it’s not a coincidence that she was chosen for the Hawai‘i Rural Paternity Advocate Pilot Project. Her extensive experience in family law and the court, combined with her background in personal injury, made her a perfect candidate.

The Rural Paternity Advocate Pilot Project is a pilot program that trains qualified paralegals under the employ of Legal Aid to provide legal assistance to clients on family court issues related to paternity, child custody, and visitation. What makes this program special is the comprehensive training and, once training is completed, in-court appearances that trained paralegals may provide Legal Aid clients. Over a span of two months, Lori trained in a virtual setting consisting of 14 lessons.

The training included reviewing legal formalities and terms, as well as engaging in evidentiary proceedings and conducting cross-examinations. Additionally, the training involves conducting mock trials and accumulating observational hours in a real courtroom for hearings and cases, all under the guidance of a Legal Aid attorney who is licensed to practice in Hawai’i.

“The training helped me see different points of view on various aspects, especially when it comes to understanding clients and advising them effectively. In these paternity cases, we're talking about the most important people in their lives. I've had to tell people things that I know they don't want to hear, and they've cried, and they've cried, and they've cried, but this is their safe place.”

Training like the Rural Paternity Advocacy Pilot Project is a key component in scaling the community justice worker movement in places like Hawai‘i. It’s a pathway to possibilities. Options like online schooling weren’t available to Lori growing up, and the only law school available in the state is in Honolulu. Though visible on the horizon, it was still far from reach.

Lori’s own years of experience set the foundation, with the program strengthening her knowledge. She was able to master legal language, gain confidence, and find support from her team at Legal Aid as well as from local judges. Her journey demonstrates what’s possible—a future where community justice workers nationwide can serve their neighbors directly. 

“At the end of the day, people want someone to listen to them, listen to their concerns, and try to move forward together. Their family dynamic is changing, and it is my job to help them reach their new family goals. I'm honest. I'm passionate. I’m competent.”

In May 2025, the Rural Paternity Advocate Pilot Project was ordered to be extended for an additional three years. According to Legal Aid’s status report, “The Pilot Project has successfully shown that this model of non-attorney Advocate-led services through legal services organizations can be a critical tool in removing barriers to providing access to justice to Hawaiʻi’s indigent and vulnerable populations.”

With this extension, Legal Aid is authorized to train more individuals to assist in handling critical legal cases and remove the barriers to attorney-only representation. As the program evolves, Lori has played a key role in helping others step confidently into the growing movement of justice work and shape its future in Hawaiʻi.

People like Lori, deeply invested in their work and not bound by titles or degrees but by their profound connection to the people they serve, show a future where justice doesn’t have to be distant. It’s a testimony—with the right tools and trust, community justice workers can rise from every corner of the country.