aura J. Barns received a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of California at Berkeley in 1977. She graduated from Southwestern University School of Law in the top ten percent of her class in 1980, and was admitted to the California State Bar that same year. Ms. Barns received  the American Jurisprudence Awards in Corporations and Family Law during law school.

Ms. Barns has extensive litigation experience in complex business matters, "RICO" [Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act], employment matters (including sexual harassment, employment discrimination and wrongful termination), insurance bad faith defense, insurance defense, trademark and copyright litigation and "Lemon Law." She has arbitrated numerous cases and tried both jury and non-jury trials in superior and municipal court and in the United States District Court. Ms. Barns has served as an arbitrator with the Los Angeles Superior Court Arbitration program. She is admitted to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States District Courts in all districts in California. She is a member of the Orange County Bar Association.