Meet the writers, editors and contributors behind Enjuris
Accidents, injuries and the subject of personal injury law hits home for us. Everyone on our team has had their lives touched by an accident in some way, at some point, whether it was a friend, a family member, or themselves.
We know what it’s like to have a thousand questions all at once, while hoping and praying someone you love will pull through the next few weeks and months. We want to make Enjuris a truly useful resource for people who are facing the tough questions that come up after an accident.
We look to approach all our content with empathy and an eye for accuracy, thoroughness and usefulness to our audiences. Get in touch if you’d like to write for us, share your story or provide some feedback – we’d love to hear from you!
Enjuris provides real answers from real lawyers about personal injury and accidents.
Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Editor
Ian first became passionate about legal writing in law school, where he served as managing editor of the Pittsburgh Journal of Environmental and Public Health Law. After graduating, he represented children in the foster care system and then served as an attorney editor for the Oregon State Bar. Before joining Enjuris, Ian practiced law at Paine Hamblen LLP, where he represented diverse clients in all aspects of civil litigation.
When Ian’s not writing about the law, he’s making up stories. His short stories and poems have appeared in the Roanoke Review, Lullwater Review, Maine Review, Flyway Journal of Writing and Environment, and Spokesman Review. His debut novel, Before Familiar Woods, was named a top 10 debut of 2020 by Apple Books.
Ian also finds time to practice yoga and brew beer—although never at the same time. He lives in Washington State with his wife, Labrador retriever and spirited two-year-old daughter.
Bar Admissions
Washington State Bar
Oregon State Bar
Idaho State Bar
U.S. District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Washington
Education
University of Pittsburgh School of Law, J.D.
Marist College, B.A.
Featured On Other Sites
Senior Copywriter
When she’s not working, Melissa spends her time reading fiction, hiking or cycling with her family, or writing her novel (which has been in progress for many, many years). Her background includes a degree in Literature & Rhetoric and a Juris Doctor, and her career path led her through experiences in journalism and digital marketing before she landed on legal writing for SEO with Enjuris. She believes strongly in writing and sharing information that is thorough, accurate and clear. She commits herself to creating content that is easily understandable in order to provide the greatest possible value to the reader.
Melissa loves spending time outdoors and works from her “backyard office” whenever the weather permits. When the workday is over, she’s holding down the fort for her two busy children, husband and their wild (but super-cute) puppy.
Editor
Before returning to school to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a minor in creative writing, Dakota worked as a registered nurse in a cardiac unit. She also ran a small cake business, where her work was featured in several cake decorating magazines. Her true passion, however, has always been writing and editing, and she loves being able to use that passion to help other writers perfect their work.
Dakota continually seeks new ways to challenge herself and tries to live by the motto, “Sometimes the fear won’t go away, so you’ll have to do it afraid.” In her spare time, she enjoys reading, cooking, gardening and going to the theater with her two teenage kids.
Honorable Mentions
Storyteller, listener, intrepid adventurer, and avid defender of the planet, social justice and human rights
As the Executive Editor of the Enjuris team, Lance works tirelessly behind-the-scenes making sure all the information on the site is relevant, accurate, comprehensive, engaging and helpful to site visitors, as well as coordinating Enjuris’ contributors, editors, guest authors and staff. He has years of experience as a content marketer and strongly believes in the power of words—and the responsibility that entails.
From medical negligence to getting hit by a car while biking, Lance has experienced first-hand the personal challenges people often face when they or a loved one are harmed or killed in an accident. He is committed to continue making Enjuris a trusted, empathetic and comprehensive online resource where people who’ve been injured and their families can go when seeking answers after tragedy strikes. Outside of the office, Lance enjoys backpacking, camping, climbing, skiing, biking and any other outdoor activity that lets him spend more time in the mountains near Denver, Colorado.
Attorney, digital marketing professional, professor, advocate for children and animals
Whether she is explaining the legal system to her students or helping law firms describe a victim’s legal rights on their websites, Nancy’s career is centered around making the law more accessible and understandable to the general public. Her digital marketing strategy is to develop meaningful and relatable content, first, and apply tactics like SEO techniques, second.
Originally from Long Island, she and her husband have settled in the D.C. metro area. A trained dance and fitness instructor, Nancy’s classes are on a brief hiatus as she gets her workouts running after her happy little girl and spunky Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. She attended Wake Forest University for both undergraduate college and law school.
Coordinator of things, believer in the power of the individual, nurturer, advocate for kindness and truth
As a long-time member of the Enjuris team, Lisa enjoys helping create meaningful content, develop user-friendly functionality, and design impactful graphics. She has nearly two decades of experience in marketing, copywriting and consulting on market development, taking her from Eastern Canada to Japan, and now Florida. Lisa holds an MBA with concentrations in international business and marketing from Dalhousie University in Halifax, NS, Canada.
During her downtime, Lisa can be found playing tennis with her husband and two sons, trying out new recipes, and planning their next trip. Nearly losing her sister to a motorcycle accident helps her keep a steady focus on those who come to Enjuris for help. Visit Lisa’s author page
Fearless content marketer, writer, and advocate for Native American, civil, women’s and voting rights, as well as health care, community development, early childhood and higher education issues
Kim Hayes has brought to life many special stories on Enjuris, from high-profile news to interviews with people who have come through a traumatizing accident (including her friend Stacie’s story). She has extensive experience in the legal field, writing about civil rights and women’s issues from a policy and litigation perspective for numerous nonprofits. She has developed innovative communications campaigns and editorial content for nonprofits, news outlets and the business sector. She also has a background in journalism, with her work focusing on Native American, healthcare and anti-poverty topics.
Kim always brings the “human factor” to her writing, believing it is the most important part of telling any story. During her nearly 19-year career, Kim has also served as a media liaison and fundraising consultant. Originally from Baltimore, MD, Kim attended Goucher College, earning a BA in Communications. She now lives in the Washington, DC area with her husband Jason, where they love to attend concerts, sporting events and occasionally kick up their heels for some salsa dancing. Visit Kim’s author page
Chronic pain warrior, lawyer, advocate for people with disabilities, lover of animals, political activist
Jennifer Kain Kilgore has a knack for spotting a story as she compiles useful resources, interviews attorneys for feature pieces, and writes informative, thought-provoking articles, legal guides, and blog posts related to personal injury. She also excels at checking content for legal clarity. She is very passionate about helping people navigate the post-accident world and making it easier to understand because she has had her life completely upended by two car accidents, resulting in spinal fusions.
When she has the time, she also enjoys working on her own projects, which include writing novels, literary nonfiction, and short stories. She is a graduate of Ohio University (B.S., Journalism, 2009, cum laude) and the New England School of Law (J.D., 2012). Visit Jen’s author page
Enough about us! We want to hear from you.
We invite you to tell us your story or get in touch with us.
See our guide Choosing a personal injury attorney.