Barbara Ryea, CLA, CAS began her legal career in 1980. Prior to joining Chain-Younger, she worked for some of the finest defense trial attorneys in Kern County. Since 1996, Barbara has worked for David Cohn, Managing Senior Partner, as his lead Legal Assistant and Administrator of his devoted legal team.
Barbara has worked with David Cohn on numerous complex cases, including catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and product liability cases. She exclusively handles Mr. Cohn's trial, Federal, and Appellate cases. Barbara was the legal assistant that worked with Mr. Cohn on the largest jury trial verdict in the history of the firm involving a young man that sustained a serious brain injury and other orthopedic injuries.
In 1989, Barbara completed the Attorney Assistant Program through California State University, Bakersfield. In January 2000, she obtained the national designation of Certified Legal Assistant (CLA). Barbara also obtained the designation of California Advanced Specialist (CAS) in Civil Litigation in January 2002.
Barbara has been an Associate Professor at California State University, Bakersfield, Extended Studies Program where she has taught Personal Injury Law. She, and her co-instructor, was one of the first legal assistants to teach in the Extended Studies program that was routinely taught by attorneys.
Barbara has volunteered for multiple terms on the Board of the Kern County Paralegal Association. She is also a member of the National Association of Legal Assistants and an associate member of the Kern County Bar Association. Barbara has had an article published in "RECAP", the California Alliance of Paralegal Association's publication, "Working Effectively with Expert Witnesses". She has also had an article published in the "Res Ipsa", the Kern County Bar Association's publication entitled, "Teamwork and the Power of We". Barbara was featured in The Bakersfield Californian in June 2002 as one of Kern County's devoted paralegals. In 2003, she was the recipient of the "Kern County Paralegal of the Year" awarded by the Kern County Paralegal Association. Barbara was also the primary writer of the Chain-Younger website.
Barbara is married to David Ryea and is the mother of three children, and four step-children. In her spare time, she enjoys a variety of interests, including church, golfing, reading, walking, hiking, and traveling.
Barbara Ryea