Z’Aujanae Thomas is a complex-litigation paralegal in Skiermont Derby LLP’s Los Angeles office. She brings extensive experience in docket management, e-discovery, and trial preparation to support the firm’s attorneys in high-stakes business, intellectual property, and RICO matters. Ms. Thomas regularly drafts pleadings and discovery responses, manages voluminous document collections, and prepares trial exhibits and witness kits for proceedings in both state and federal courts. Her meticulous organization, sharp critical thinking, and ability to distill complex records into clear, actionable work product make her an indispensable member of every trial team.
Ms. Thomas began her academic journey early, having been selected for Washington’s prestigious Running Start program, which allows academically qualified high school juniors and seniors to earn both high school and college credit through community college coursework. At the tender age of 17, Z’Aujanae was applying to four-year universities as a transfer student, having already completed two years at Pierce College. She went on to earn her B.A. in Sociology from the University of San Francisco, where she was named a Leo T. McCarthy Public Service Fellow and completed a full-time congressional internship in Washington, D.C. at the U.S. House of Representatives. There, she attended and reported on Congressional briefings, hearings, and panels, drafted memos for legislative aides, drafted constituent correspondence, and assisted with Capitol tours. She also served as a Census Student Ambassador, promoting public awareness about the importance of census participation.
She also built a strong foundation in public service early on, interning with the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, tutoring elementary school children with learning disabilities through the America Reads Program, and working in her university’s call center to help generate donations—all experiences that shaped her commitment to equity and advocacy.
Dedicated to criminal and social justice, Ms. Thomas volunteers her time with wrongful-conviction advocacy organizations, building on her earlier work with the Legal Advocacy & Education Commission, where she interviewed exonerees and supported public education on criminal justice reform. She also mentors first-generation college students considering legal careers and serves as a Rise Coordinator for Doves Fly Free, Inc., a nonprofit supporting minority-owned small businesses.
As a first-generation college graduate who navigated the foster care system and brings a breadth of professional experience across multiple industries, Ms. Thomas connects easily with people from all walks of life. Clients appreciate her positive, passionate, can-do attitude, while colleagues value her calm efficiency and client-centered mindset—qualities that help Skiermont Derby deliver seamless, trial-ready service in the most demanding cases.