Hopewell Lawyers

From Centre Hall, PA. Attended Penns Valley Area High School, the Pennsylvania State University and Ohio Northern University. Admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar on October 24, 1979.
I have been Chair of the Domestic Relations Section, Secretary and President of the Centre County Bar Association.
I have been practicing law in Central Pennsylvania for 41 years.
My practice is concentrated on family law, wills, and estates.

B.A., York College of Pennsylvania M.A., Atlantic University M.A.R., Liberty University Diploma, Squadron Officer School, Air University M.B.A., Universidad San Juan de la Cruz D.B.A., Apollos University Ed.D., Charisma University Certificate in English Law, London Metropolitan University J.D., Widener University Delaware Law School LL.M. (Labor), Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law Ph.D., American Christian College and Seminary Scholar, Oxford Society of Scholars, Omega Graduate School D.C.L., International University for Graduate Studies Licensed Real Estate Instructor, Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission Fellow, The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce Fellow, The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland Fellow, The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland Fellow, The Royal Statistical Society Fellow, The Royal...

My first experience in estate planning was as a U.S. Navy Judge Advocate in 2008 providing legal assistance to active duty members, retirees, and their families. I retired in 2023 after having served in several leadership roles. Supporting our community in this very real and meaningful way is such a rewarding and exciting opportunity to continue making a positive impact in others' lives.

Kristin's passion for helping people overcome difficult times drives her, whether in the legal arena or in her community. Kristin earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pittsburgh and then went on to earn her Juris Doctorate from the Pennsylvania State Dickinson School of Law. After receiving her Juris Doctorate and passing the Pennsylvania Bar, Kristin practiced bankruptcy law before joining The McShane firm as a Criminal Defense Litigation Associate.

Greatest Plaintiff's Lawyer in the United States. Only represent Employees - Never represent Employers.

PATRICK M. LIVINGSTON is admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the United States District for the Western District of Pennsylvania. He is a past chair of the of the Allegheny County Bar Association's Judiciary Committee, and is currently the CJA Panel Representative for the Western District of Pennsylvania. He is also a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Erie County Bar Association's Roberts Scholarship Committee. He has been a sole...

Mr. Ernsberger was a founding partner of the law firm of Behrend and Ernsberger, and is now a shareholder in its successor, Behrend and Ernsberger, P.C. with offices in the City of Pittsburgh. Mr. Ernsberger has been engaged primarily in trial practice for twenty years, having in that time tried approximately 50 civil jury trials of various types and degrees of complexity and settled many others. The claims litigated include medical malpractice, RICO, ERISA, Fair Labor Standards Act, consumer protection, trademark infringement, patent infringement, patent mismarking, Federal False Claims, products liability, multi-unit construction contracts, employment discrimination, wrongful discharge, insurance fraud,...

Since 1976, Melvin L. Vatz has been faithfully providing legal counsel and guidance to clients. As a Pittsburgh lawyer, he handles a comprehensive range of cases. Whether you have been injured on the job, hurt in an accident, charged with a crime, or caught up in an employment law issue, Attorney Mel is there for you. He has tried cases in both federal and state courts and has taken on major appeals. With nearly 40 years of legal experience, Mel is the advocate you want in your corner. As a former Assistant District Attorney in Allegheny County, he brings a...