Experienced attorney Ilya E. Lerma represents plaintiffs in complex personal injury cases in Greater Phoenix and throughout Arizona, including:
Those who sustain serious injuries in drunk driving accidents when the driver has been over-served alcohol in licensed liquor establishments (such as bars and restaurants) in violation of the law
Persons suffering catastrophic injuries in collisions between commercial carriers and conventionally sized cars and trucks
Victims of accidents caused by auto defects and malfunctioning consumer products
Families whose elderly loved ones have been injured and exploited by physical, verbal, and financial abuse or neglect in nursing homes
Insurance policyholders whose company has wrongfully denied claims or failed to live up to their obligations under their policy for life, disability, or casualty insurance, and the company has committed bad faith
Victims harmed through professional negligence, such as financial and insurance producers, or real estate agents who breached fiduciary obligations, breached a contract, or committed other acts of negligence or fraud
The Law Office of Ilya E. Lerma LLC offers free initial consultations. Home and hospital visits can be arranged for those who are too injured to travel. The contingency fee basis for Ms. Lerma's legal services means that no attorney fees are owed unless your case is won. Call today. We welcome email messages and reply to them promptly.
Bar Admissions
Arizona, 1999
U.S. District Court District of Arizona, 1999
Education
The University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, Tucson, Arizona
J.D. - 1998
Northern Arizona University
B.A. cum laude - 1995
Major: Philosophy
Associations
President, Arizona Association for Justice
Honors and Awards
Arizona Trial Lawyer-Volunteer Lawyer of the Year, 2014
Featured Speaker Arizona Association for Justice, Trial Advocacy Conference, 2014
Arizona Latina Women in Business- featured panelist 2012
Clean Technologies, "Fresh-Faces" Presenter and Award Recipient (non-legal), 2010
Past Employment Positions
Tidmore & Lerma, LLC 2002-2011
Tidmore Law Offices 1999-2002
Pima County Public Defender 38(e) Felony Division, 1998
Federal Public Defender (research volunteer), 1998
Nationally Renowned Speaker
National Trial Lawyers Association; Courtroom Playbook: Trial Structure for your next Case, 2022
Florida of Justice 2022, TBI Med School: Preparing the Brain Injured client for Testimony, 2022
Texas Trial Lawyers Association - Mind, Body, Trial: Advanced Witness Preparation, 2022
Arizona Association for Justice Trial Advocacy Conference Ordinary Cases and Extraordinary Results, 2021; Into the Abyss: Exposing Defense Fallacies at Trial, 2022
Dallas Trial Lawyers Association and El Paso County Trial Lawyers Association, Advanced Witness Preparation, 2022
New Jersey Association for Justice, Advanced Witness Preparation, 2022
Connectionology 2022, Advanced Witness Preparation, 2022; Structuring your Traumatic Brain Damage Case, 2022
Society of Women Trial Lawyers, Advanced Witness Preparation, 2022; Structuring Your Traumatic Brain Damage Case 2022; The Heart of Law (podcast) 2021
Celesq AttorneysEd Center 2021, Weaponizing Lead Witnesses for Killer Testimony
Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, Trial Advocacy Program, Skills and Trial Practice 2021
"Weaponizing Lead Witnesses for Killer Testimony", 2021 - LegalEdcenter/Thomson Reuters
Arizona State University Trial Advocacy Presenter 2019, 2020
Litigating Brain Injuries against Huge Insurance Companies (LST-I AM the LAW podcast, 2020)
Trial Structure Method, Connectionology, 2020
“Identifying and Understanding TBI” Trial Structure Webcast 2020
TBI Med Legal, Brain Injury Association of California 2019
“Making Time and Putting Yourself First” - Dominate Law Podcast, 2019
Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles Women’s Trial Skills Conference, 2019
Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, 2019
New Jersey Association for Justice, 2019
Western States Association for Justice, 2019
Alliance of Women Trial Lawyers, Trial Skills Annual Conference, 2019
"Auto Injury Claims” National Business Institute, 2019
“Identifying Bad Faith Conduct in Auto Accident Claims” National Business Institute, 2019
“Business Risk & Liability” (webcast) National Business Institute, 2018
American Association for Justice - Weekend with the Stars, 2018
State Bar of Arizona Trial College, Opening Statement-presenter, 2018
Arizona Trial Lawyers Association and Arizona Association for Justice Trial Advocacy Conference, 2016
Ancillary Businesses
GREENFREAK, LLC 2008-2016 (plastics recycling), CEO
Languages
Spanish
English
