Attorney Rebecca Owen helps clients through the most difficult times

By Kamala Kirk

Throughout the years, Rebecca Owen has helped a significant number of clients reach successful outcomes with divorces, child custody and other family-related legal matters. Named one of the top 50 attorneys in Arizona by The Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education, Owen has been practicing law since 1997 and founded her Phoenix-based law firm in 2007.

“I enjoy helping people get through what I consider to be one of the top two worst things in their lives,” Owen says. “Even though it may seem like it at the time, it’s not the end of the world when a divorce is happening. Probably the most satisfaction that I get out of doing this is seeing people thrive in the end and move on with their lives.”

Raised in the small town of Lake Station, Indiana, Owen joined the U.S. Air Force out of high school and served for seven years. She was stationed in Texas, New Mexico, Turkey, England and California before receiving an honorable discharge in 1991. While in the military, Owen earned an associate degree from the Community College of the Air Force in 1990. In 1993, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland, then went on to earn her juris doctorate degree from the Widener University School of Law in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1996.

“Getting an education was important to me when I was growing up,” Owen says. “I knew that I would have the opportunity to attend college while I was in the military, and I wanted to move on to bigger and better things in life. My clients include a lot of military families, so having that background has been particularly helpful in my career as well.”

Prior to starting her own firm, Owen worked for the Law Office of Merrill W. Robbins from 1996 to 2002, then joined the Law Office of O. Joseph Chornenky until 2006. She has been a sole practitioner since 2007, and in addition to being a member of the Maricopa County Bar Association and the State Bar of Arizona, she is also a judge pro tem.

Being involved and helping others is of great importance to Owen, who was previously named Attorney of the Month by the Volunteer Lawyers Program. She began her volunteer work as a Guardian Ad Litem working with children, and she previously volunteered with the Family Lawyers Assistance Program at the Maricopa County Superior Court, in addition to providing legal assistance for residents at the Salvation Army and volunteering for the Arizona Stand-down for military persons. She is also a member of the Military Legal Assistance Committee.

“It’s important to keep up on things, because it’s another way that I can contribute and be of service,” Owen says. “A lot of people need help out there. I wanted to stay involved in the community and keep up on local issues.”

Owens takes great pride in the ability to relate to many of her clients, and they appreciate the fact that she is straightforward and gets the job done, resulting in a positive outcome for everyone involved.

“Losing my mother when I was a child has made me sensitive to the issues that my clients are dealing with,” Owen says. “It gives me an additional perspective when helping them work through various custody issues, because I know what it’s like to only grow up with one parent. I’m also kind and patient, while at the same time straight to the point. I work efficiently because I have no desire to prolong anyone’s divorce—let’s get it over with. My goal is to do the best job possible for my clients so that they can move forward with their lives.”