Paula J. Yost, JD, LCMHC-S
Paula J. Yost is an attorney and Licensed Clinical Mental Health Clinician whose practice focuses on the intersection of law, mental health, and protecting what matters most to her clients. Her diverse practice includes trademark and brand protection, estate planning and probate, and legal matters involving mental health and individual well-being.
Paula earned her B.S. in Microbiology, with a minor in Chemistry, and her B.A. in English from Virginia Tech. She received her J.D. from Widener University School of Law (now Delaware Law School) in 2005 and her M.A. in Clinical Mental Health from Lenoir-Rhyne University in 2015.
Paula is licensed to practice law in North Carolina and Georgia and before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. She has more than a decade of experience in trademark law and has successfully prosecuted more than 1,000 brands before the USPTO. Her practice also includes estate planning and probate.
A particular focus of Paula’s work is what she describes as “legal social work”—the intersection of an individual’s mental health and the legal system. She frequently serves as a court-appointed Guardian ad Litem for individuals who are mentally ill or potentially incompetent. Her legal and clinical backgrounds provide her with a distinctive perspective on working with clients whose mental health may affect their legal matters and attorney-client relationships. As a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Clinician, Paula also provides counseling services, often incorporating an existential approach to therapy.
Paula is deeply involved in her community. She has served as chair of the Cabarrus County Child Protection and Fatality Team for more than a decade and serves on the Virginia Tech Distinguished Alumni Board. Her community leadership has been recognized with numerous awards, including the 2015 Young Careerist Award from the Concord-Cabarrus Business and Professional Women’s Club and its state-level organization, the 2019 Anne Laukaitis Champion for Children Award from the Cabarrus County Partnership for Children, and the 2024 Karen W. Ponder Leadership Award from NC Smart Start.
Paula founded the Law Office of Paula J. Yost—The Country Law Shack—in her hometown of Mount Pleasant, North Carolina. The office is located in the home of her great-grandmother, reflecting Paula’s longstanding family and community ties to the area.
Outside of her professional and community work, Paula is a certified yoga instructor and enjoys fitness, spending time with her family, and being involved in her children’s school.
