The El Segundo family lawyers at Skarin Law Group have named Ava Tyler the 2026 recipient of the firm's Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship. Ms. Tyler is a student at California Northern School of Law, where she is preparing for a career advocating for families and survivors of domestic violence. The $1,000 scholarship recognizes students who show leadership and a commitment to helping families in need.
In her winning essay, Ms. Tyler described teaching herself family law as a self-represented parent protecting her children, an effort that led to a formal complaint with the Judicial Conduct Board. For the past fifteen years, she has helped other survivors start businesses and reach financial independence at no cost to them. She also completed the 40-Hour Domestic Violence Advocate Training Program through Rainbow Services. Ms. Tyler recently purchased a home that she plans to turn into a shelter where survivors and their children can rebuild their lives. After law school, she hopes to return to the Los Angeles or San Diego area to continue that work.
In announcing the award, Matthew K. Skarin wrote to Ms. Tyler, "Teaching yourself family law as a pro se litigant, seeing that fight through to a complaint with the Judicial Conduct Board, and then spending the next fifteen years helping other survivors get on their feet is exactly the kind of leadership this scholarship was created to recognize. As a family law attorney, I see every day how much a knowledgeable advocate matters to families in crisis."
The recognition matters because it highlights the role of lived experience in family law, where self-represented litigants often face complex procedures without guidance. Ms. Tyler's path from navigating the system alone to mentoring other survivors illustrates how legal knowledge can be converted into community support. The scholarship, awarded by Skarin Law Group, also signals the firm's interest in backing advocates who work directly with families in crisis, not only those who excel academically.
Students interested in applying in future years, as well as families facing a divorce or custody matter, can contact the firm's attorneys with questions. The firm handles divorce, child custody, child and spousal support, paternity, parental rights, and premarital agreements, and founder Matthew K. Skarin is a Certified Family Law Specialist and a Certified Public Accountant who brings financial insight to every case.
