About Us

Paula J. Yost

Managing Attorney


Paula is very passionate about protecting what is important to her clients. This includes everything from children, Trademark brand protection, estate plans, and an individual’s mental health. 


A large portion of Paula’s practice focuses on Trademark prosecution before the  United States Patent and Trademark Office. She has successfully prosecuted over four hundred brands and worked with Trademark applications for over a decade. In addition to her Trademark work, Paula has a love for what she would call legal social work. 


Any type of work where an individual's mental well being meets the law is an area where Paula can add value. In that role, she frequently works as a court appointed Guardian ad Litem for the mentally ill or those deemed potentially incompetent. She is available to represent families who may need to have a loved one declared incompetent. Her other practice areas include drafting estate plans, forming corporate entities, copyright, simple divorce, and assisting clients with minor traffic infractions in Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, or Stanly Counties. 


Paula is licensed to practice law in North Carolina, Georgia, and the United States Patent and Trademark Office.   


Her enthusiasm for learning while working as an attorney, inspired Paula to return to grad school to obtain a Masters in Clinical Mental Health and she is also Licensed Clinical Mental Health Clinician. Paula actively sees clients for counseling needs and usually uses an existential approach to therapy. 


Paula has served as the chair of the Cabarrus County Child Protection and Fatality Team for over six years. She was also awarded the Cabarrus Partnership for Children’s Champion for Children Award 2019. 


A first generation college graduate, Paula practices law out of her great-grandmother’s house in Mount Pleasant, North Carolina. Paula and her husband have an adopted daughter who is now an adult with a family of her own, three young sons, and three cats. Paula is also a certified yoga instructor and loves to read historical fiction novels. 


Education:

Virginia Tech: B.A. in English and B.S. in Microbiology with a minor in Chemistry

Delaware Law School: JD

Lenoir-Rhyne University: MA

CONTACT US

Jessica Goldstein

Attorney


A native of Charlotte, Jessica graduated from UNC Charlotte in 2010 with a B.A. in Criminal Justice, minoring in Communications. After graduation, Jessica began working as a Forensic Services Technician at the Winston-Salem Police Department.  This position showed her the good, bad, and ugly of the criminal justice system.


Two years of working crime scenes was enough for Jessica; in 2014, Jessica combined her love for the law and passion for sports by attending Marquette University Law School where she concentrated her studies in sports law and was awarded a Sports Law Certificate from the National Sports Law Institute. During law school, Jessica served on the Marquette Law Review and was the Executive Editor of the Marquette Sports Law Review.


Upon graduation, Jessica worked at the Wisconsin Supreme Court as a Law Clerk for one term, which instilled in Jessica a larger passion for research, writing, and answer finding.  Working in multiple areas of the law in both the criminal and civil realm, Jessica had an opportunity to supplement her law school learnings with real life application.


After leaving the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Jessica moved to Orlando, Florida and completed a year-long internship with the Orlando Magic.  This internship helped to hone Jessica’s contract drafting skills and showed her the inner workings of a professional sports franchise. While in Orlando, Jessica also won the Intern Volunteer of the Year Award for completing the most community service hours of anyone in the organization. 


After living outside of the State for five years, Jessica wanted to return to Stanly County where her parents and grandmother live. She often jokes that she is somehow related to half the county.  She has found a home at the Law Office of Paula J. Yost and focuses her practice in contract review and drafting, probate, estate planning, legal research, and brief writing.


Jessica is licensed to practice law in Wisconsin and North Carolina.


In her spare time, Jessica coaches youth soccer and futsal in Stanly County, officiates high school soccer, and passionately follows and supports the Atlanta Braves, Duke Blue Devils, and Charlotte FC.

CONTACT US

Coan Ritchie

Paralegal


A native of Concord, Coan graduated from Western Carolina University with Honors in 2010 with a B.S. in Psychology, minoring in Criminal Justice. 


In 2012, Coan began working for the State of North Carolina at the Cabarrus County Clerk of Court in the Estates Division. For 9 years, Coan served the citizens of Cabarrus County as first a Deputy Clerk of Court and later as an Assistant Clerk of Court. Coan has a passion for helping our clients navigate through challenging estates proceedings.


In 2013, Coan married her high school sweetheart, Garrett. In 2016, they welcomed their first son, Rhett, and in 2018 welcomed his brother, Heath. When not chasing her boys around, Coan enjoys reading romance novels (she loves the guaranteed happy endings!), traveling, and the occasional alone time.

CONTACT US

Walter Austin

Practice Manager


Walter is from Nashville, Tennessee, and joined the U.S. Marine Corps right out of high school. He served in the Tennessee Army National Guard during Operation Desert Storm, but was never deployed. Walter did receive a National Defense Service Medal. 


In 1996, Walter was in Chapel Hill, North Carolina where he met UNC alumnus and Mount Pleasant native, Francie Swaringen. They were married in June 1997 and settled in Mount Pleasant. Walter and Francie have three children. 


Walter has worked at the Law Offices of Paula J. Yost since 2015. Walter has a Criminal Justice Technology Associates Degree from Rowan Cabarrus Community College and an Associates in Applied Science and Information Systems Securities from Stanly Community College. 


He is an active volunteer with SEAkers Aquatic Adventures, Inc. and won the Volunteer of the Year Award in 2019 after driving a bus filled with high school students to Florida for Spring Break diving trip.  

CONTACT US

Bailey Parker

Legal Assistant



Bailey is a Concord, NC native who graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School in 2017.  She received her Associates degree from Rowan Cabarrus Community College. She completed her BA in Criminal Justice at UNC Charlotte in 2021.


Bailey is currently enrolled in graduate school at Liberty University to obtain her Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health.  It’s her goal to become a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and continue helping the community in new and exciting ways.


Bailey enjoys spending time with friends, family, and her 2 dogs, Amos & Divot.  In her spare time, Bailey enjoys outdoor activities including hiking and kayaking.

  

CONTACT US

Robert E. Cansler

Of Counsel


Robert E Cansler of Concord, NC joined the Country Law Shack as “of counsel” in July 2022.  


Robert holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Economics from UNC-Asheville and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Dayton.  He became a member of the NC State Bar in 1978 and secured licensing to practice before the United States Supreme Court in 1983.  


He previously served as an Asheville Police Officer, a Deputy US Marshal, an Assistant Attorney General, and retired as Chief of Police of Concord, NC.  During his tenure as Chief of Police, he was elected President of the Association of NC Chiefs of Police.  


Following his law enforcement career, Robert practiced law for 22 years where he specialized in estates, eminent domain (condemnation of real property), guardianship (including disabled adults), and governmental relations, including service as Assistant City Attorney of Concord and Town Attorney of both the Towns of Indian Trail and Stanfield.  He also represented private clients in a variety of other issues.


In his spare time, Robert enjoys fishing from his boat on Badin Lake, volunteering with local Boy Scouts by mentoring fellow Eagle Scouts and serving on the Executive Board, and teaching community members about the safe handling of firearms and the finer points of shooting.

CONTACT US
Share by: