Trena C. Grasser

Trena began her legal career in 1998 as a receptionist for a solo practitioner in Kelso, Washington. Over the years, she progressed from receptionist to legal assistant, gradually taking on paralegal responsibilities, and ultimately transitioned into a full paralegal role in October 2022.

Her current practice area is civil litigation, which she prefers for its variety and the intellectually challenging nature of the work. Trena’s prior experience includes debtor‑creditor matters (including collections and bankruptcy), estate planning and probate, business law, employment, landlord‑tenant, family law, and limited felony criminal matters. This diverse background provides her with a well‑rounded perspective and a strong ability to efficiently identify and prioritize the key issues in each matter.

Trena’s responsibilities include:

• Case Management
• Drafting
• Client Communication and Support
• Research
• Trial or Hearing Preparation
• Organization

Trena works closely with each member of the firm’s litigation team, assisting with all aspects of case management and ensuring that deadlines are timely met. Her responsibilities include legal research; drafting and preparing pleadings and discovery; organizing discovery productions; and communicating with clients to ensure that information contained in those documents is accurate and complete.

She assists with trial preparation by tracking and meeting all pretrial deadlines, delegating and managing logistical aspects of trial preparation, and ensuring that trial presentation equipment is available and functioning properly. Trena also attends trials, where she presents exhibits during direct and cross‑examination, supports case organization and trial management, and provides support with time-sensitive issues during trial proceedings.

Trena’s practice areas include civil litigation in both state and federal courts, appellate matters, homeowners’ association collection and compliance, and creditor bankruptcy matters.

Outside of the office, Trena enjoys spending time with her family, including her three feisty grandchildren and two “ferocious” miniature dachshunds (at least in their own minds). She also enjoys tournament bass fishing with her father, indulging her love of crochet, knitting, and all things yarn, reading science fiction and fantasy novels, and playing video games.

Trena credits her great‑aunt, Aleen Greenwood, with introducing her to the legal field. Although Trena secured a permanent position with a law office during Aleen’s lifetime, she passed away before Trena achieved her goal of earning her paralegal degree. That early introduction ultimately inspired Trena to pursue her legal career in earnest.

With more than 25 years of legal experience, Trena has devoted her career to supporting attorneys in litigation and trial preparation. Prior to joining Black Helterline LLP in 2019, she spent nearly 20 years with a Vancouver law firm, where she worked closely with attorneys at various stages of their careers and gained extensive experience managing complex litigation matters.

• Member of the Oregon Paralegal Association since 2024