Rita A. Meiser has practiced law in Phoenix for
over 30 years, focusing in the areas of adoption,
employment and mediation law.
In her adoption practice, Ms. Meiser provides a full range of legal counseling and representation on behalf of prospective adoptive families, birth parents and adoption agencies. Her practice includes a special emphasis on private adoptions and interstate adoptions. She has experience in relative adoptions, including step-parent and grandparent adoption, as well as single parent and foster care adoptions. Rita helped found and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys (AAAA), a national coalition of highly skilled adoption attorneys. She serves as a judge pro tem in the Juvenile Division of the Maricopa County Superior Court.
In her labor/employment practice, Ms. Meiser’s particular expertise involves conducting investigations. She has been involved in both public and private entity investigations, including Azscam, high profile school district investigations, as well as investigations for private employees. She also represents clients before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Arizona Civil Rights Division. Ms. Meiser is a trained mediator.
EDUCATION
J.D., University of Arizona, 1976
B.A., University of Pennsylvania, 1972
ADMITTED TO PRACTICE
Arizona, 1976
Arizona Supreme Court, 1976
U.S. District Court, District of Arizona, 1977
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS
American Academy of Adoption Attorneys
Fellow, 1989 to present
President, 1994-1995
Vice President, 1992-1993; 1996-1997
Board of Trustees, 1990-1998
Conference Chair, 1999
Arizona Supreme Court Advisory Committee to the Confidential Intermediary Program
(Arizona’s statutory adoption search and reunion program)
Chair, 2004-2007
Arizona Women Lawyers Association
Member
Children’s Law Center
(sponsored by the Volunteer Lawyers Program)
Advisory Board
Maricopa County Superior Court
Judge Pro Tem
Maricopa County Bar Association
Member
National Conference of Family & Juvenile Court Judges
Committee on Expedited Adoptions, 1996-1998
State Bar of Arizona
Member
Rules of Professional Conduct Committee, 1979-1988
University of Arizona Law College Association
Past President, Board of Directors, 1993-1994
Board of Directors, 1988 to present
University of Arizona College of Law
Board of Visitors, 1994 to present
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Aid to Adoption of Special Kids
President, Board of Directors, 2004 to 2007
Member, Board of Directors, 2000 to present
Program Resource Committee, Chair, 2001
Catholic Social Service of Central and North America
Executive Board, 1981-1987
Board of Directors, 1981-1987
Childhelp, U.S.A.
Arizona Board of Directors, 2003 to present
Family Service Agency
Vice President, Board of Directors, 1990-1991, 1992-1993
Member, Board of Directors, 1987-1994
Hospice of the Valley
President, Board of Directors, 1998-2000
Vice President, Board of Directors, 1992-1993; 1995-1998, 2004 to present
Board of Directors, 1987-1993; 1995 to present
Executive Board, 1989-1993; 1995 to present
Home Care Volunteer, 1980-1987
Leukemia Society, Desert Mountain Chapter
President, Board of Directors, 1998-1999
Vice President, Board of Directors, 1997-1998
Board of Directors, 1994-2000
Corporate Delegate to National Leadership Conference, 1999
Maricopa County Women’s Treatment, Services & Supervision Network
Advisory Committee, 1996-1999
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
Recipient of Angels in Adoption Award (presented in Washington D.C. by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute), 2004
Athena Award Finalist, selected by the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, 2004 and 2005
Named in “Who’s Who in Business” publication by Today’s Arizona Woman Magazine, 2002
Tribute to Valley Women Award, 1998
Spirit of Hospice Award, 1998
University of Arizona College of Law, Outstanding Graduate Award, 1998
Martindale Hubbell Law Directory - AV® Rating - Peer Review Rated
PAST EMPLOYMENT
Jennings, Strouss & Salmon, PLC
Member, 1983-2006
Associate, 1978-1983
Law Clerk to the Honorable James A. Walsh, U.S. District Court of Arizona, 1976-1978
In her adoption practice, Ms. Meiser provides a full range of legal counseling and representation on behalf of prospective adoptive families, birth parents and adoption agencies. Her practice includes a special emphasis on private adoptions and interstate adoptions. She has experience in relative adoptions, including step-parent and grandparent adoption, as well as single parent and foster care adoptions. Rita helped found and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys (AAAA), a national coalition of highly skilled adoption attorneys. She serves as a judge pro tem in the Juvenile Division of the Maricopa County Superior Court.
In her labor/employment practice, Ms. Meiser’s particular expertise involves conducting investigations. She has been involved in both public and private entity investigations, including Azscam, high profile school district investigations, as well as investigations for private employees. She also represents clients before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Arizona Civil Rights Division. Ms. Meiser is a trained mediator.
EDUCATION
J.D., University of Arizona, 1976
B.A., University of Pennsylvania, 1972
ADMITTED TO PRACTICE
Arizona, 1976
Arizona Supreme Court, 1976
U.S. District Court, District of Arizona, 1977
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS
American Academy of Adoption Attorneys
Fellow, 1989 to present
President, 1994-1995
Vice President, 1992-1993; 1996-1997
Board of Trustees, 1990-1998
Conference Chair, 1999
Arizona Supreme Court Advisory Committee to the Confidential Intermediary Program
(Arizona’s statutory adoption search and reunion program)
Chair, 2004-2007
Arizona Women Lawyers Association
Member
Children’s Law Center
(sponsored by the Volunteer Lawyers Program)
Advisory Board
Maricopa County Superior Court
Judge Pro Tem
Maricopa County Bar Association
Member
National Conference of Family & Juvenile Court Judges
Committee on Expedited Adoptions, 1996-1998
State Bar of Arizona
Member
Rules of Professional Conduct Committee, 1979-1988
University of Arizona Law College Association
Past President, Board of Directors, 1993-1994
Board of Directors, 1988 to present
University of Arizona College of Law
Board of Visitors, 1994 to present
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Aid to Adoption of Special Kids
President, Board of Directors, 2004 to 2007
Member, Board of Directors, 2000 to present
Program Resource Committee, Chair, 2001
Catholic Social Service of Central and North America
Executive Board, 1981-1987
Board of Directors, 1981-1987
Childhelp, U.S.A.
Arizona Board of Directors, 2003 to present
Family Service Agency
Vice President, Board of Directors, 1990-1991, 1992-1993
Member, Board of Directors, 1987-1994
Hospice of the Valley
President, Board of Directors, 1998-2000
Vice President, Board of Directors, 1992-1993; 1995-1998, 2004 to present
Board of Directors, 1987-1993; 1995 to present
Executive Board, 1989-1993; 1995 to present
Home Care Volunteer, 1980-1987
Leukemia Society, Desert Mountain Chapter
President, Board of Directors, 1998-1999
Vice President, Board of Directors, 1997-1998
Board of Directors, 1994-2000
Corporate Delegate to National Leadership Conference, 1999
Maricopa County Women’s Treatment, Services & Supervision Network
Advisory Committee, 1996-1999
AWARDS AND RECOGNITION
Recipient of Angels in Adoption Award (presented in Washington D.C. by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute), 2004
Athena Award Finalist, selected by the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, 2004 and 2005
Named in “Who’s Who in Business” publication by Today’s Arizona Woman Magazine, 2002
Tribute to Valley Women Award, 1998
Spirit of Hospice Award, 1998
University of Arizona College of Law, Outstanding Graduate Award, 1998
Martindale Hubbell Law Directory - AV® Rating - Peer Review Rated
PAST EMPLOYMENT
Jennings, Strouss & Salmon, PLC
Member, 1983-2006
Associate, 1978-1983
Law Clerk to the Honorable James A. Walsh, U.S. District Court of Arizona, 1976-1978