Ellen Cookman (formerly, Reinstein) graduated from the University of California at Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall) in 2003, where she served as Executive Editor of the Berkeley International Law Journal. She received her Bachelors of Arts degree in music from Pomona College in Claremont, California, graduating Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude.

Upon completing law school, Ms. Cookman completed a one-year clerkship for Chief Judge Anthony J. Scirica of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She then returned to California and worked for three years at Morrison & Foerster as a litigation associate, focusing on patent and securities litigation.

Ms. Cookman currently practices estate planning and estate litigation at Gilfix & La Poll Associates LLP. She particularly enjoys serving families with special needs, and volunteers in various capacities within the special needs community. Ms. Cookman has also taught mathematics at the Hope Technology School in Palo Alto, California, which practices full inclusion of typical and special needs children.