Caroline E. Vaaler

Caroline Vaaler is a member of the Firm’s family law department. Her areas of focus include child custody, divorce, child abuse and neglect proceedings, and adoption.

Before starting her legal career, Caroline developed a passion for supporting families while working at a local preschool through high school and college, where she built strong relationships with the children and their families. Her experience with children and families guided her to family and juvenile law. At SLU Law, Caroline assisted in Guardian Ad Litem investigations in the Children’s Permanency Clinic for high-conflict custody matters and child orders of protection and managed a minor guardianship caseload. A member of SLU’s law journal, Caroline authored an article on the best interest of the child standard and how the standard could be improved to limit bias. In her International Law studies, Caroline conducted extensive research and authored an article on child soldiers, arguing that children involved with armed groups overseas should be afforded greater protection as victims under International Humanitarian Law. As an intern with the National Association of Counsel for Children, she advocated for legal representation for children in child welfare proceedings, helped develop training programs for attorneys representing children, and furthered her understanding of child development. These experiences inform Caroline’s practice of law, providing her with a well-rounded understanding of families, empathy, and advocacy.

When she is not working, Caroline loves baking and cooking, spending time with her family (including her cat Buffy), watching movies, and exploring all the cafés and attractions of St. Louis.