Attorney Bio
Peacemaker
Erin R. Parks started her Santa Barbara legal career in 1988. Erin’s success is the result of fierce tenacity, compassion for her clients, attention to detail, superior writing acumen, and knowing that being a peacemaker, and an ethical officer of the court, take precedence. While Erin has achieved numerous admirable resolutions through aggressive litigation up to the point of trial, or through mediation and arbitration, her practice is guided by the wisdom to:
“Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can. Point out to them how the nominal winner is often a real loser—in fees, expenses, and waste of time. As a peacemaker the lawyer has a superior opportunity of being a good [hu]man. There will still be business enough.” ~ Abraham Lincoln
In Service to California’s Legal Community
Erin is an active member of the State Bar of California and is admitted to all California State and Federal Courts. Erin has been a member of the State Bar’s Labor & Employment Section, and served on the State Bar’s Committee on Women in the Law.
Erin’s years as a Director on the Board of the Santa Barbara County Bar Association culminated in her service as its President in 2024.
Passion For Progression of Womens’ Rights
Erin’s commitment to the progression of women’s rights is borne out by her longstanding advocacy for public policies that protect and expand reproductive rights and access to reproductive health care services; and membership in Santa Barbara Women Lawyers with service on its Board of Directors and continuing participation in a Mentoring Circle.
Commitment to Protecting Legal Rights of California Workers
Erin’s ongoing membership in California Employment Lawyers Association (CELA) – a statewide organization of attorneys representing employees in termination, discrimination, wage and hour, and other employment cases – helps Erin protect and expand the legal rights of California’s workers through litigation, education and advocacy, and ensures that Erin’s employer clients understand the virtues of maintaining non-hostile workplaces.
In her decades of practice, Erin has successfully represented a wide variety of workers, and small business employers, in resolving and preventing employment discrimination and retaliation, wrongful termination, defamation, unfair competition and wage and hour claims.
Compassion For United States Immigrants
Erin’s post-graduate work in Immigration at Pepperdine Law, a year honing her immigration skills through pro bono service to the Los Angeles County Bar’s Immigration Legal Assistance Project, and practicing immigration law for decades have given Erin a great deal of compassion for immigrants seeking legal residency and citizenship in the United States.
Making Quality Legal Information Accessible & Affordable
Erin is committed to making quality legal information accessible and affordable because it is fundamental to making informed future choices that significantly impact our lives. Erin gives back to the Santa Barbara County community for providing her with an extraordinary quality of life by providing ongoing pro bono consultations regarding employment issues, estate planning and immigration processing.
California Native – Global Citizen
Erin is a California native of the San Francisco Peninsula where she attended Santa Clara University Law School, reveled in Law Review editorship, and studied International Dispute Resolution and Comparative Law abroad. Erin continues to practice global citizenship as an avid traveler and volunteer for sustainable humanity.