About Hannah J.
Hannah J. Engholm combined two strands of study early in her career: social work and law. She earned a B.A. in psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2009. Four years later she completed both a Juris Doctor at California Western School of Law and a Master of Social Work from San Diego State University in 2013. The dual degrees shape how she approaches legal problems.
Her early professional interests reflected that interdisciplinary background. Before moving fully into legal practice, she spent time learning the practical side of serving clients who face complex personal and social challenges. That work informed her judgment about what clients need from lawyers: clear explanations, practical steps and attention to nonlegal factors that affect outcomes.
Engholm is admitted to practice in California. She joined Wilkinson & Finkbeiner, LLP and has been based at the firm’s offices since. At the firm she handles matters that require both legal analysis and an understanding of human services. Colleagues describe her as methodical in case preparation and steady in negotiations. She prefers thorough fact-gathering and careful legal research before proposing a course of action.
Her training in social work continues to influence her approach to client relationships. She takes time to assess client goals and the wider circumstances that shape those goals. That perspective often affects how she frames legal strategies and communicates options. It also shapes her courtroom demeanor: measured, attentive and focused on the evidence.
Engholm has balanced litigation work with negotiating settlements and administrative proceedings. She has appeared in hearings and has prepared clients for testimony and deposition. Her practice includes drafting pleadings and motions, conducting discovery and counseling clients about procedural choices. She draws on her academic background to explain legal processes in plain language.
Outside casework she keeps up with developments in California law that affect her clients. She participates in internal firm trainings and contributes to case strategy discussions. The combination of social work and legal training gives her a particular perspective on cases that touch on family, health and community services. She currently practices at Wilkinson & Finkbeiner, LLP and concentrates on legal matters in California.
