Sarah Shumate-Connor was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. She graduated with Highest Honors from Metropolitan State University of Denver with a B.A. in Economics and a minor in Political Science. She earned her J.D. from the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University where she graduated cum laude. During law school, Sarah was a Student Articles Editor for the Duquesne Law Review, a member of the Appellate Moot Court Board, and a Graduate Research Assistant for Professor Seth Oranburg. She also worked as a law clerk for Burke Cromer Cremonese, a boutique defense firm in Pittsburgh. Her current practice areas include insurance defense , professional malpractice defense , personal injury defense , and business organizations and transactions .