Sophya Qureshi
Raza
Journey to
Family Law
Despite vowing to never return to St. Louis after college, here I am. I returned to St. Louis after college in DC and stayed here for law school. In between graduating from college and attending law school, I worked at Edgewood Children’s Center with physically and sexually abused children. It was this experience that first sparked my interest in family law. I wanted to choose a career that I was passionate about and that I was good at and found that fit with family law.
I have focused my practice solely on family law since graduating from law school in 2002. I have found that concentrating my practice on family law has allowed me to gain a very deep understanding of the issues and laws involved.
When I first started practicing, I only focused on traditional family law litigation in court. As I have grown in my practice, I have realized that while some cases must be litigated in court, many situations can be efficiently and effectively resolved outside of the courtroom. With this in mind, I also began working as a family law mediator and a Collaborative family law attorney.
I truly do enjoy helping those who are in a crisis or who need help solving problems. I take great pride and find it deeply rewarding to resolve my clients’ problems and guide them through their family law issues.
I have experienced firsthand the effects and emotions of divorce and custody litigation. Not only on myself but also on my daughter. People hire lawyers for guidance through the legal maze, we are not counselors or therapists, but I believe that it is extremely beneficial for my clients to know that they have an attorney in their corner who has been there. My experience has put me in the unique position of understanding the life-changing circumstances you have found yourself in.
Education
Education
- Washington University School of Law, Juris Doctor (2002)
- George Washington University, Bachelor of Arts (1997)
Legal Background
Legal Background
- Principal, Danna McKitrick, PC (2011-2015)
- Associate, Danna McKitrick, PC (2003-2010)
- Founder and Co-Owner, Raza & Jones, LLC (2016-2021)
- Attorney, The Center for Family Law (2021-2022)
Credentials & Distinctions
Credentials & Distinctions
- The Best Lawyers in America for Collaborative Law: Family Law (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
- Missouri Super Lawyers 2022
- Lawyer of the Year Award for St. Louis in the field of Collaborative Law: Family Law, (2017)
- Certified Mediator, Washington University School of Social Work
- St. Louis County Court Approved Mediator
- Collaborative Family Law Attorney
- AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
- Missouri and Kansas Rising Stars, (2010, 2012)
In addition to her formal academic training, Ms. Raza received extensive and specialized training in trial advocacy at the ABA Family Law Trial Advocacy Institute from experts across the United States.
Affiliations & Community
Affiliations & Community
- St. Louis Survivors Legal Support Board Member and Secretary
- Collaborative Family Law Association of St. Louis
- Association of Family and Conciliation Courts
- Kids in the Middle, Advisory Board (2019)
- Former Domestic Violence Docket Volunteer Attorney
- Gateway Pet Guardians – Volunteer Dog Foster
- Stray Paws Rescue – Volunteer Dog Foster
- St. Louis Disc Dog member
Publications & Presentations
Publications & Presentations
- Co-presenter “Effectively Deposing your Opponent’s Financial Expert” Missouri Bar Annual Family Law Conference (Aug 2017)
- Co-presenter “Crafting an Effective Parenting Plan” Missouri Bar (Feb 2017)
- “Advanced Discovery and Evidence in Divorce” National Business Institute CLE (Sep 2016)
- “Electronic Spying and Tracking Spouses in Divorce Cases: What’s Legal in the Digital World” Strafford CLE (Aug 2014)
- “Untangling Legal Responsibilities and Patient Well-Being: Knowledge and Tools to Guide the Mental Health Practitioner,” Care and Counseling, Inc. and St. Louis Psychological Association (Feb 2010, Oct 2010, May 2012)
- “Divorce Survival Seminar” Living Word Church
- “Divorce, Summer, Kids and Vacations” MacaroniKids.com blog post
- “Family Law: Understanding It, Working Through It, Moving On”
Television Guest
Television Guest
- “Gray Divorce” KPLR-TV with Christine Buck
- “Summer Vacations, Kids and Families of Divorce” KTVI Fox2 News in the Morning with Margie Elisor
Radio Guest
Radio Guest
- “Michael Jackson’s Children” Total Information AM with Tom Calhoun and Maria Keena, KMOX
- “Children in Divorce” St. Louis on the Air, St. Louis Public Radio, KWMU
- “The Divorce Process: Navigating it Smoothly” St. Louis on the Air, St. Louis Public Radio, KWMU
- “Michael Jackson’s Children” Total Information AM with Tom Calhoun and Maria Keena, KMOX
- “Children in Divorce” St. Louis on the Air, St. Louis Public Radio, KWMU
- “The Divorce Process: Navigating it Smoothly” St. Louis on the Air, St. Louis Public Radio, KWMU
Neale Hurston
I mostly love reading crime thrillers and mysteries.
Michelle Obama