PATRICIA L. MCKINNON is associated with the firm of Baker, Pittman & Page. She graduated from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 1994, and Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois in 1983.

     In 2002, Ms. McKinnon became a “Certified Family Law Specialist”, through the Indiana State Bar Association. She limits her practice to the area of Family Law, which includes: divorce, legal separation, paternities, adoption, grandparent and guardianship cases (adult and child visitation).

     Ms. McKinnon has been a past speaker at many continuing education events for lawyers, and other professionals, including: “An Introduction to Family Law”; “Family Law for Paralegals”, “Hot Topics in Family Law”, “Children’s Records Law in Indiana”, “What You Need to Know About Child Abuse and Neglect Investigations”, “Confidentiality and Documentation for Social Workers in Indiana”, “Law for Social Workers, Counselors and Other Helping Professionals” and “Working With Parents in Termination of Parental Rights Cases”. A former part-time Public Defender in civil cases, she represented parents in their quest to preserve their parental rights in CHINS or Child in Need of Services cases and TPR or Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights cases.

      Ms. McKinnon is a member of the Indianapolis and Indiana State Bar Associations. She received the Indianapolis Bar Association’s Board of Managers Award in 2000, and the Indianapolis Bar Association’s President’s Award in 1996. In 2002, she received the Pro Bono Publico Award from the Indiana Bar Foundation for her efforts to promote pro bono representation of indigent clients. Ms. McKinnon has been a past board member of the Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic, which provides free legal assistance for those unable to afford the cost of a private attorney. She has also been a board member of Seeds of Hope, Inc., a halfway house for women recovering from a chemical addiction.

      In 2004, she was appointed by the Indiana State Bar Association as their representative to the board of Indiana Legal Services, Inc.

      She is married, with three children. Her hobbies include: reading, gardening, bike-riding and collecting stories about interesting legal cases.

AREAS OF PRACTICE:

Family Law including Disslutioon of Marriage, Legal Separation, Paternity, Guardianship (adult and child) and Adoption.

LITIGATION PERCENTAGE:

100 % of Practice Devoted to Litigation

CERTIFICATIONS:

Certified Family Law Specialist, 2002.

BAR ADMISSIONS:

Indiana, 1994.

EDUCATION:

University of Notre Dame Law School, JD. Notre Dame, Indiana, 1994.

Augustana College, B.A. Rock Island, Illinois, 1983.

SEMINARS TAUGHT:

An Introduction to Family Law.

Family Law for Paralegals.

Hot Topics in Family Law.

Children’s Records Law in Indiana.

What You Need to Know About Child Abuse and Neglect Investigations.

Confidentiality and Documentation for Social Workers, Counselors and Other Helping Professionals.

Law for Social Workers, Counselors and Other Helping Professionals.

Working with Parents in Termination of Parental Rights Cases.

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND MEMBERSHIPS:

Indianapolis Bar Association

Indiana State Bar Association

American Bar Association

AWARDS:

Indianapolis Bar Association’s Board of Managers Award, 2000.

Indianapolis Bar Association’s President’s Award, 1996.

Indiana State Bar Foundation’s Pro Bono Publico Award, 2002.

 Indiana State Bar Association's Presidential Citation, 2004.

PAST EMPLOYMENT:

Marion County Public Defender’s Agency, Part-time Public Defender, 1995-2000, for CHINS (Child in Need of Services) cases and TPR (Termination of Parental Rights) cases. 

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES:

Seeds of Hope, Inc., past board member.

Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic, past board member.

Indianapolis League Aid Society Inc.

Indiana Legal Services Organization, Inc., current board member.

Indiana State Museum Volunteer.