If you’re here visiting, let me introduce myself.* My name’s Leila Shea Christensen and I’m the owner of Leila Shea Law, LLC. I practice exclusively in family law, and I’m licensed in both Missouri and Kansas.  (I’m licensed in Nevada too, but I do all my work out here in the Midwest.) I grew up in Utah, went to Brigham Young University (for both undergrad and law school), worked in Vegas, and then moved out near Kansas City. And no, I did not get a serious case of wanderlust in order to move here – my parents and six (of seven!) siblings up and moved on me, and I finally followed them. (We’re working on getting my last sister out here, don’t worry.) Oh – and I am the oldest. My brothers and sisters will tell you that I never let them forget it. Now that I live here, I can’t imagine living anywhere else.  Kansas City’s a gorgeous place and I love it. I especially love it when it’s warm – this whole freezing thing is not really me.

I’m crazy about great food, working out, salsa dancing, speaking Spanish, and making cupcakes. Reading’s one of my favorite things, and I’m always in the middle of a book. I love all sorts of music, think art museums rock, and enjoy going to movies.

My law firm’s located just a block from the Family Courthouse in Kansas City at 2526 Holmes, Kansas City, Missouri 64141. Reach me at 816-471-1000 anytime.

*The “official version” of my bio can be found at www.leilashealaw.com. You’re getting the informal version if you stick around.

Cupcakes: a white cake mix.  with fresh eggs. made according to the box. (SUPER easy.)

White Chocolate Mousse: heavy whipping cream, whipped up. while whipping, add one bar of melted white chocolate – but make sure that the chocolate is mostly cool while you pour it in, or it’s going to be gross.

Frosting: 1 bag (2 lbs) powdered sugar, 2 cubs (1 cup) softened butter, about 1/4 cup water, 2 tsp vanilla.  Mix until fluffy.

Assemble: Cut a hole out of the center of the cupcake, but don’t go so far that you cut out the bottom.  Fill it with white chocolate  mousse.  Top with frosting – cover up the hole where the mousse is sticking out.

Finally, eat the pain away!  That’s right, if you eat enough cupcakes, you just might forget how BYU played. (Or rather, how they didn’t play.)

*PS – sorry for the picture quality – the lighting wasn’t fantastic & there’s no flash on the iPhone.

My family has been there along the journey to every bar exam.  When I took the Missouri Bar, two of my brothers came along with me to Jefferson City. We went out to dinner the night before the exam to celebrate – and the next morning, I ended up with food poisoning.  I’m confident that it was the prayers of my whole family that helped me to pass that test, because I don’t know how I made it through the exam. On the way home from Jefferson City (about a four hour drive) we had a tire blow out after a log fell off a big truck in front of our little Corolla.  My fifteen year-old brother managed to change the tire (in the dark on practically no shoulder!), we got off the freeway, and made it to a Wal-Mart where they changed the tire. Unfortunately Wal-Mart didn’t check the other tires like I asked – less than 15 minutes after we got on the freeway again, another tire blew out.  Needless to say, it was a very long day, followed by a very long night. When I got my pass results, we all celebrated – and then I went out to visit and was sworn in at the local bank by a notary public.

Thankfully the Kansas Bar was uneventful.  No food poisoning.  No tire blowouts.  That was all I wanted. Passing was an extra bonus. :)

I’m so grateful for my family – I wouldn’t have been able to get to where I am without  their love and support for my dreams.  Thanks guys!  I love you.