Over the course of her twenty-five year professional career, Crystal has represented and advised clients in law, in business, and in mental health and social work concerns. She has advised and counseled prominent federal, state, and local officials, as well as business owners, institutions, agencies, providers, families, and individuals. Crystal consistently approaches problems from a holistic perspective, with a dedication to integrity and mindful of the impact of decisions on all affected. She serves all clients with equal dedication, from the most vulnerable and powerless to the most prestigious and powerful institutions. Crystal is well accustomed to navigating challenging situations; she has not wavered when taking high stakes positions, facing intense scrutiny, or working with the most difficult and dire of circumstances, whether impacting one individual or thousands.

Crystal is a Massachusetts licensed attorney, LCSW (Licensed Certified Social Worker), and CPA (Certified Public Accountant). She is also a MA certified mediator. In business and accounting, Crystal has worked both in private industry and in public accounting and auditing. As a lawyer she has represented clients before agencies and in state and federal court, from investigation through trial and appeal. Personally and professionally, Crystal has represented clients in business and employment matters, civil and criminal matters, family law, education, mental health, civil rights, and immigration. She has worked with both those harmed and those accused, plaintiffs and defendants, from murder through copyright. Crystal has advocated for clients; advised in business, strategy, compliance, and policy determinations; drafted and revised governing documents, agreements and contracts, and policies; and helped parties reach resolution through provision of mediation services. She has guided clients through changing business, legal, cultural, and political landscapes. In mental health and social work, Crystal has worked with government, institutions, families, and individuals in situations involving criminal charges and dangerousness, substance use, diagnosis and treatment, foster care and adoption, trauma and abuse, family systems, parenting, unplanned pregnancies, and child development, as well as special needs and education.

Throughout her career, Crystal has also served her community, her church, and non-profits and professional organizations in providing services and representation, shaping policy, and writing and editing publications. She has educated and trained law students, attorneys, prosecutors, providers, and law enforcement in such topics as investigations, mental health, crisis intervention, secondary trauma, domestic violence, substance use, and changes in the law. Crystal also continually seeks out opportunities to gain skills she can use to help her clients, including training certifications in Adoption Competency, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Solutions-Focused Therapy.

Crystal's personal and family background includes many of the same struggles as she has worked with professionally, including divorce and custody disputes, police and justice involvement, trauma and abuse, neurodivergence and special needs, mental health and suicide, adoption, immigration, and substance use. Her career has been shaped by acquiring the training and experience to help not just her family, but everyone facing similar issues, with truth and compassion, and by engaging in decision making with wisdom and integrity and in line with Biblical values. Crystal has been a follower of Christ for thirty-five years. Crystal is married and has three children. Her youngest child is a high school senior.

Education:

California State University, Fullerton (BA Business Administration, Accounting Concentration, cum laude)

UCLA School of Law (JD, Order of the Coif)

Boston College School of Social Work (MSW, GPA 3.981)

linkedin.com/in/crystallyons