About Kimberly Riley

Kimberly graduated from California State University, San Bernardino with Bachelors degrees in History and Economics and from Claremont Graduate University with a Masters degree in Economics with emphasis in Business and Finance. She went on to pursue her Law degree at the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento and was admitted to the California Bar in 2008.

During law school, Kimberly was the recipient of the Amicus Lex Award, awarded to the first year law student who ranked number one in their class. She is also a member of the Traynor Honor Society, McGeorge School of Law; Phi Kappa Phi, National Honor Society; Omicron Delta Epsilon, Economics Honor Society; and, Phi Alpha Theta, History Honors Society. She has also been the recipient of various academic scholarships, some of which include: McBride Family Economics Scholarship, SEMA Memorial Scholarship, and John A. McCarthy Scholarship.

While attending law school, Kimberly worked as a civilian manager for the Sacramento Police Department. She managed the Governmental Affairs Unit in the Chief’s Office, which served as the police department liaison with outside governmental agencies and other city departments, primarily the Sacramento City Attorney’s Office, City Manager’s Office, and City Council and drafted, reviewed, and processed contracts, Public Record Act requests, City Council reports, legislative analyses and opinions, and ordinance revisions. She also served as a member, on behalf of the Sacramento Police Department, of the California Peace Officers’ Law and Legislative Committee.

Kimberly began her legal career in 2008 with Lackie, Dammeier, McGill & Ethir, APC where she represented police officers and firefighters in Internal Affairs investigations, Brady appeals, Skelly hearings, officer-involved shootings and critical incidents, settlement negotiations, fitness for duty examinations, CCW appeals, and grievances. During her time at LDME, she also assisted Associations in a variety of labor relations matters, which included contract negotiations, systemwide grievances, meet and confer violations, agency shop issues, PERB appeals, contract negotiations, ballot initiatives, and recall elections.   In 2013, Kimberly teamed up with Andrew Dawson to form Dawson & Riley, LLP. Together Kimberly and Andrew seek to provide the same dedicated representation to peace officers and firefighters throughout the State in both administrative disciplinary matters and labor representation.