Natalie holds an undergraduate degree from Illinois State University in Community Health Education and Promotion. After graduating Illinois State, she worked as a hospital unit secretary in Traverse City, Michigan and later in Park Ridge, Illinois, where she gained her passion for helping those in their time of need.
Utilizing her administrative skills, she transitioned into the legal field with a drive to bring the same attention to detail and level of understanding that she employed while managing the hospital floor and numerous patients. Natalie has mastered the art of multi tasking in high stress environments and her ability to do so shines through as Giannola Legal LLC’s paralegal.
In her personal time Natalie enjoys aerial yoga, hiking, and spending time with friends and family.
Q&A:
From the perspective of your role, what’s one thing you wish clients understood better about the divorce process?
You know your soon-to-be-ex partner better than their attorney does and better than we do! The more you can agree with them on and take those agreements to us as your Counsel, the faster your divorce process will go!
How do you balance the emotional side of family law with the legal side?
In all my professional careers, I have always worked with clients who are in the middle of a rather difficult or extreme part of their life’s journey. That experience has helped me to remember that I am working with these clients for serious reasons, and that if their lives were going “perfectly” then they wouldn’t need mine or an attorney’s help. It is always a great feeling when the law is able to protect a client or their child from harm, and to see a client “blossom” into life as they get out of a toxic marriage! Those wins motivate me to work harder!
From the perspective of your role, how do you ensure clients feel heard and understood?
I always want our clients to feel that their concerns have been heard and addressed by their legal team, even if there is no legal way for us to address that specific concern to their Judge. The problems in family law are family problems, they are nuanced and personal to each case, and all deserve attention and respect. Our attorneys do a great job at explaining what legal avenues are or are not available to clients and what would not be worth wasting their retainer funds on. I am proud to say that our clients know where their money is going in their case and what they are gaining from it.
How does your team support each other during stressful cases or busy times?
This is one of my favorite dynamics about working at Giannola Legal- we work together to get our clients the best outcome possible because we lean on each other’s strengths. Though you may only speak to your main attorney on the case, you have the full support of everyone in our office as your case proceeds. That means more eyes to make sure “no stone is left unturned” and ensuring we have looked into all options for you vs. one attorney and their one perspective on your case.
What do you like to do to unwind after a long day in court or at the office?
I like to work out, take a walk, or read a book after a long day at work.
If you weren’t working in the legal world, what career would you want to try?
I have always had a passion for music, so writing album reviews for Rolling Stone or Pitchfork would be a dream career!
What’s one thing people might be surprised to learn about you?
I am a huge outdoorswoman! I love hiking, camping, snowshoeing, and just being out in nature!
