Friends of the Bar

• Citation: Vol. 48 No. 5 Pg. 50
• Year: 2025
• Pages: 50

Friends of the Bar No. Vol. 48 No. 5 Pg. 50 Wyoming Bar Journal October, 2025

Elisabeth M.W. Trefonas

Basic Bio:

I graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a Microbiology B.S. and a minor in Womens Studies. After graduate studies in a genetics lab in the Torrey Pines Research Triangle in San Diego, I learned that I did not want to continue my career in a lab setting. California Western School of Law was across the street from my apartment in the Gas Lamp, downtown San Diego. I enrolled part-time and took classes on my lunch breaks from the lab, believing I might continue in Patent Law or something science-related in the legal field. Just before law school started, I took a vacation to ski in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Smitten with skiing, the day I graduated law school I moved to Wyoming permanently. Looking for immediate work and being bilingual in Spanish, I was gratefully able to intern with the Office of the State Public Defender. My first day with OSPD was 05/05/05 - a magic day! I've been with the OSPD ever since and have been the Supervising Assistant Public Defender of the Teton/Sublette County Field Office since 2013. Admittedly, I fully nerd out when I have a DNA or science expert testifying as a witness in jury trials.

Also, as a private attorney, I am the managing partner of Trefonas Law, PC., which I opened in 2006, where we provide services obtaining affirmative immigration benefits internationally...