Stephanie Barclay

With more than 25 years of experience, including with large Bay Area law firms, and in the government and non-profit sectors, Stephanie now focuses her practice at Carmel & Naccasha LLP, primarily in the areas of estate planning, probate and trust administration as well as business and real estate transactions. After graduating from UC Davis (1992) and then Santa Clara University School of Law with honors (1996), Stephanie practiced law at several large law firms and then the California Attorney General’s Office, False Claims Section, before returning to the Central Coast, where she grew up. 

Back home on the Central Coast, Stephanie spent nine years practicing business and real estate law for a local firm and then accepted a position running a small local non-profit organization. During her 10 years with San Luis Obispo Legal Assistance Foundation (SLOLAF), the organization grew from one employee to 12 employees and increased its budget from $50,000 to over $1 million. Stephanie has been credited with exponentially increasing the organization’s ability to assist the most underserved in San Luis Obispo County and fostering strategic partnerships with other service providers. 

At SLOLAF, Stephanie had the privilege of working with hundreds of senior citizens who could not afford a private attorney but needed to plan for incapacity and wanted to be sure their wishes were honored after their passing. Stephanie provided numerous presentations on the importance of planning for incapacity around the community and encouraged every adult, regardless of their means or situation, to start doing advance planning to protect their assets and their wishes.  In 2023, after 10 years with SLOLAF, Stephanie accepted a position on Carmel & Naccasha’s Trusts and Estates team where she is able to provide full scope representation for her clients in this area. She continues to encourage all adults to have an estate plan customized to their needs and values.

Stephanie also works with many local businesses providing advice on risk management, drafting and negotiating contracts, and forming and advising business entities.  Experienced in a broad scope of business, civil, and real estate litigation and transactions, Stephanie is well positioned to advise businesses on how to protect themselves from potential liability in the future.  

Having grown up in San Luis Obispo and lived in the community for the last 20 years, Stephanie knows how important all sectors of our community are — private businesses, government agencies, and non-profit organizations — to making SLO County such a great place to live and work.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

• San Luis Obispo County Mock Trial Program
  • Attorney Coach (2005–2008)
  • Scoring Attorney (2009–present)
• Central Coast Condors Club Soccer
  • Volunteer (2013–present)
• San Luis Obispo Legal Assistance Foundation
  • Board Member (2011–2013)
• Ocean View Elementary School PTA
  • Fundraising Volunteer (2011–2016)
• Lumina Alliance
  • Domestic Violence Restraining Order Clinic, Volunteer Attorney (2011–2013)
• Queen’s Bench Bar Association
  • Board Member (2002–2003)
  • Member (1997–2003)

BAR ADMISSIONS

• The State Bar of California (1996–present) 
  

EDUCATION

• Santa Clara University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1996)
• University of California, Davis (B.A. in Psychology, 1992)