Experienced and Here for You

The Team

Meet Our People

Our team has the experience and know-how to deal with all of your questions and concerns, in a timely, compassionate manner.

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Dan South

Partner

Raised in Southern Arizona, Dan is the proud son of a copper miner and a nurse. After graduating from Canyon del Oro High School and then the University of Arizona, Dan took an academic scholarship to attend Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in Ohio, focusing his studies on Family, Juvenile, and Criminal Law.

Dan began his legal career in Cleveland, helping parents navigate juvenile court and receive the support they deserve. He worked with the Child Support Enforcement Agency to get results for single parents. In 2008, Dan was sworn in as a felony prosecutor handling criminal cases such as DUI, Domestic Violence, Robbery, and First-Degree Murder.

He then returned home to Tucson and practiced as a Trial Attorney in the Major Crimes and Special Victims units at the Pima County Attorney’s Office (PCAO). Dan’s trial work was honored across the state for both his skill in the courtroom and his victim advocacy. He prosecuted Sexual Assaults, Fraud, and Homicides. After successfully prosecuting nearly 100 jury trials, Dan’s career progressed to a leadership role at PCAO. He served as the Chief Criminal Deputy for the Pima County Attorney, supervising more than 70 attorneys. 

As the product of hard-working parents, Dan has always gone out of his way to build relationships in the community and give back. To that end, Dan has testified before the Arizona Senate on Victim Rights Matters, and taught Trial Advocacy as a Law Professor at the University of Arizona.

Sara Wright

Partner

Sara is a rare born-and-bred Tucsonan. She graduated from Canyon del Oro High School and then attended Arizona State University, where she graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. After a brief stint working in Albuquerque, she returned to her hometown. She retired from broadcasting after nearly a decade in television news.

Sara earned her J.D. from University of Arizona College of Law with a certificate in Criminal Law. During her time at UA, she served as a member of the senior board for Arizona Law Review and was awarded the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Leadership and the Chandler-Carroll Public Service Award. 

Upon graduation, she obtained a highly-competitive judicial clerkship on Division II of the Arizona Court of Appeals where she honed her legal research and writing skills working on a wide variety of cases. When her term expired, she joined the Pima County Attorney’s Office (PCAO). She was quickly promoted into the Domestic Violence Unit of the Special Victims Bureau, where she prosecuted cases ranging from aggravated assault to first degree murder, as well as adult and child sex cases. It was during her time at PCAO that she developed a talent and passion for trial advocacy.

Sara has spent her career building relationships and is active in the community. She volunteers for both Girl Scouts of the USA and Boy Scouts of America, Pima County Surf Soccer Club, and helps coach the Basis Oro Valley Mock Trial Team.

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Sara Wright

Partner

Sara is a rare born-and-bred Tucsonan. She graduated from Canyon del Oro High School and then attended Arizona State University, where she graduated magna cum laude with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. After a brief stint working in Albuquerque, she returned to her hometown. She retired from broadcasting after nearly a decade in television news.

Sara earned her J.D. from University of Arizona College of Law with a certificate in Criminal Law. During her time at UA, she served as a member of the senior board for Arizona Law Review and was awarded the Dean’s Award for Outstanding Leadership and the Chandler-Carroll Public Service Award. 

Upon graduation, she obtained a highly-competitive judicial clerkship on Division II of the Arizona Court of Appeals where she honed her legal research and writing skills working on a wide variety of cases. When her term expired, she joined the Pima County Attorney’s Office (PCAO). She was quickly promoted into the Domestic Violence Unit of the Special Victims Bureau, where she prosecuted cases ranging from aggravated assault to first degree murder, as well as adult and child sex cases. It was during her time at PCAO that she developed a talent and passion for trial advocacy.

Sara has spent her career building relationships and is active in the community. She volunteers for both Girl Scouts of the USA and Boy Scouts of America, Pima County Surf Soccer Club, and helps coach the Basis Oro Valley Mock Trial Team.

Meighan LaFata

Associate Attorney

Meighan was born and raised in Tucson’s east side. She attended the University of Arizona, graduating magna cum laude with a degree in Public Health before attending the UA College of Law on a full academic scholarship. Meighan was a distinguished scholar at UA Law, and recipient of multiple awards including the Rose Davis Public Service Graduation Award. She graduated with a certificate in Health Law.

After graduation, Meighan worked at the Pima County Public Defender’s Office, where she vigorously advocated for her clients and gained experience in all aspects of criminal litigation, ranging from high-profile murder cases to misdemeanor DUI’s. Meighan is particularly adept at handling medically complex criminal cases.

She is a skilled negotiator. Through robust investigations and motions practice, she can work out pre-indictment dismissals for her clients when appropriate and use the flaws of the State’s case to her client’s advantage.

Meighan is respected both within the legal community and by clients. She understands the unique circumstances of each person facing criminal charges and works collaboratively to help them understand their case and their options.

Martha Hinojosa

Legal Secretary and Office Manager

Martha grew up across the southwest and has called Tucson home for twenty years. While raising two young sons, she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice at Western New Mexico University.

Martha worked as a Legal Secretary in the Special Victim’s Bureau at the Pima County Attorney’s Office for six years. There she developed a passion for the behind-the-scenes work that is the backbone of the criminal justice system.

As Office Manager for South & Wright, PLLC, Martha strives to be a powerful force in the workplace and uses her legal and secretarial experience to find solutions – whether it is a client concern or a staff concern. More importantly, she creates an enjoyable and relaxed environment for her co-workers and every client who walks through the door.

Kathy Polucci

Family Law Paralegal

Kathrine recently received her Arizona Legal Paraprofessional license and is licensed by the Arizona Supreme Court to provide legal advice, draft and file documents and appear in court on behalf of clients.

Kathrine was born and raised in Alexandria, Virginia and has more than 30 years of legal experience in the areas of intellectual property, family law, real estate and personal injury. She worked as a legal secretary with the firm Lorusso & Loud in Arlington, Virginia from 1987 until 2005, when she and her family relocated to Tucson, Arizona.

In 2009 Kathrine obtained her Paralegal Certificate from the University of Arizona and she began working as a Paralegal, a role which she continues to enjoy while also working as a Legal Paraprofessional.
Kathrine is always happy to speak with clients and appreciates that everyone has their own perspective, goals, and concerns.

Faith Smith

Criminal Defense Paralegal

Faith is an experienced criminal defense paralegal with a strong background in legal support and fiduciary work. She spent two years at the Pima County Public Defender’s Office, where she honed her skills in case management and client advocacy. Prior to that, Faith worked for over five years at an estate and elder law firm, gaining valuable experience in fiduciary responsibilities.

Faith holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Anthropology from the University of Arizona and is certified as a paralegal through Pima Community College. Additionally, she was a legal intern with Ascend Justice and Women’s Justice Institute; Chicago based non-profit organizations that focus on legal advocacy for incarcerated survivors of gender violence. Her diverse educational and work background equips her with a unique perspective on legal matters.

Outside of work, Faith enjoys reading, watching films, and spending quality time with her kids and her dog, John.

 

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