Thomas Hjerpe began practicing law in 1994 and opened an office at 350 E Street in 1996.
Over the course of 25 years his firm has helped thousands of North Coast neighbors navigate bankruptcy, estate planning, and probate issues. Hjerpe Law focuses on these niche areas of law because it allows us to bring expertise to members of our community with unmet needs. We provide services with empathy, efficiency and excellence.
We have a strong commitment to the North Coast and to our community. We currently provide volunteer services at legal aid clinics through Legal Services of Northern California and with the VA. Thomas Hjerpe serves on the Board of Directors of the Northcoast Regional Land Trust and Area 1 Agency on Aging, and has previously served with Consumer Credit Counseling Service and Northcoast Advocacy Services. Our firm has been voted Best Attorney on the North Coast three times (2010, 2012 and 2019) and Best Law Office on the North Coast (2020). We are here to help.
Bios
Attorneys
Thomas Hjerpe is a graduate of Humboldt State University and McGeorge School of Law and has been practicing law since 1994. His primary areas of practice are Estate Planning and Bankruptcy. He was previously Vice President of the Humboldt County Bar Association in 2021 and 2005. He serves as Secretary of the Board of Directors for the Northcoast Regional Land Trust and the Area 1 Agency on Aging. He previously served as a Board Member of Consumer Credit Counseling Services and North Coast Advocacy Services. He founded and continues to participate in a monthly V.A. Legal Services Clinic.
Judd M. Patton is a cross-functional practitioner who leverages his experience at the intersection of law and science. Judd holds a J.D. from Southwestern Law’s two-year accelerated SCALE program and a B.S. from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is a member of the California State Bar and the United States Patent Bar, giving Judd broad understanding of both State and Federal legal issues. Previously, his practice areas included personal injury litigation, workplace incidents, divorce, and civil litigation. Currently, he practices estate planning, probate, and trust administration, at Hjerpe Law, and specializes in intellectual property law at his own practice.
In his spare time, Judd enjoys fishing, surfing, and spends copious time hiking our local Humboldt trails.
Julia Hjerpe is an attorney. She grew up in Humboldt working in the family business. She attended Humboldt State University and UC Davis School of Law. At HSU, she majored in French and Political Science with a concentration in Global Politics, and minored in Psychology. At Davis, she was a founding member of the Music, Arts, and Media Law Society, and member of the Women’s Law Association.
She has two indoor bunnies and a rescue cat. In her free time she enjoys local theater and art.
Legal Staff
Joni Hewston is a paralegal who has been a respected legal professional in Humboldt County for more than thirty years, mostly specializing in probate and wills, and is a past President of the Humboldt County Legal Professionals Association. She has spent many years as a youth group leader in both Boy Scouts and Job’s Daughters and is a member of the Order of Eastern Star, the Emblem Club, and the North Coast Scottish Society.
Courtney Lyman is a paralegal in the area of estate planning. Courtney was born and raised in Humboldt County. She previously served as Board President for the Humboldt Animal Rescue Team (HART) and continues to help where she can. She spends any spare time with her family, which includes her first child (born 2023), her husband, his younger brother that they raise together, and their ten animals.
Melody Beltz is a legal secretary. Melody has an Associate Degree in Paralegal Studies and a Liberal Arts Degree in Business. Her prior experience includes County service as a Patients’ Rights Advocate, Office Services Supervisor, Senior Legal Office Assistant and Correctional Officer; Clinical work as an Administrative Assistant, Clinical Supervisor and a Manager of a Medical Office. Her emphasis is on providing excellent customer service. In her free time, Melody is a motorcycle enthusiast and a dog lover.
Liam Achterberg Muñoz is a paralegal and heads the firm’s legal operations. He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Political Science and a focus in International Relations. He loves to paint and draw.
Harley Bates is a legal secretary supporting the estate planning team. She is often a client’s first point of contact, assisting with scheduling, answering questions about our process, and providing guidance and reassurance along the way. Originally from Shelter Cove, California, Harley graduated from Cal Poly Humboldt in 2026 with a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and a minor in Ethics and Values. She plans to attend law school in the fall of 2027.
Outside the office, she enjoys exploring new places with her dog, Zeus, and chasing the sun wherever it shines along the Humboldt coast.
Avery Evans is a legal secretary. She was born and raised in Santa Clara, California, and earned her bachelor’s degree in Finance with a minor in Economics from Cal Poly Humboldt. During her final year, she worked as an assistant to the Chair of the Business Department and received the Outstanding Senior Award for the finance concentration. In her free time, she enjoys learning to play new instruments and attending Dead & Company concerts.
Jess Kimmel is a legal secretary. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English from Willamette University in Oregon, and has lived most of her life in Humboldt County. In her free time, she enjoys writing speculative fiction, playing tabletop role-playing games, and studying far too many languages.