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Alexandra Crouthamel '15 transitioned from a Catholic high school environment to ����ԭ�� nearly seamlessly, a move that was intentional on her part. The fact that it just so happened to be one of the only local, intimately sized universities offering a four-year forensic science program sealed the deal.

“I loved that I could be away from my parents, but could go home at any time,” Crouthamel explained. “And that being at college felt like home away from home. I was involved in several clubs, with cheerleading, and felt like I could do everything I wanted to do.”

Part of what she wanted to do was graduate early, enabling her to take her LSATs. ����ԭ�� was supportive in helping Crouthamel take on extra credit and gain valuable experience through two internships: one with the Berks County Forensic Unit where she ultimately learned she didn’t want to work solo on cases in a lab, and another at Northampton County Prison, where she discovered she enjoyed spending time in the courtroom.

Her ����ԭ�� experiences, as well as valuable education and life lessons from professors, stick with her today.

“My core values align with those at ����ԭ��,” said Crouthamel, founder and owner of , an all-female firm. “They are what make me a well-rounded person.”

Regarded as “a zealous attorney known to be a pitbull in the courtroom,” Crouthamel practices complex criminal and family law. She defends clients some may criticize as not worthy of defense as they face serious felonies including aggravated DUI, homicide, theft, fraud, drug crimes and misdemeanors.

“It’s not always cut and dry,” she explained. “The [judicial] system certainly has flaws.”

A new mother herself, Crouthamel also assists family law clients in filing Protection From Abuse (PFA) orders, divorce and custody motions, and protects children involved in children and youth legal matters.

While the Pennsylvania Bar Association suggests practicing attorneys perform 40 hours per year of pro bono work, Alexandra says she does close to 500. Why?

“My grandfather was a big contributor to his community and lived by the motto of ‘Pay it forward,'" she said.

With him at heart, she does just that. Crouthamel even has the phrase tattooed on her forearm. Most of her pro bono hours are spent supporting battered women. She’s also devoted a significant period of time working with Stephen’s Place in Bethlehem, Pa., committed to aiding non-violent men who leave prison homeless with a place to recover from drug and alcohol abuse issues and to develop personal life skills.

You can surely say Crouthamel is guided by Franciscan values, and is a true product of her ����ԭ�� experience.