Lara received her undergraduate degree from Rhodes College in 1990. In 1993, she received her J.D degree from the University of Memphis, where she was a member of the Law Review and the recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award in Contracts I. While in law school, she authored Cowe by Cowe v. Forum Group, inc.: Wrongful Life and the Dilemma of Comparing Impaired Existence with Nonexistence. 22:4 Memphis State University Law Review.

In 2007, Lara received the Sam A. Myar, Jr. Memorial Award, which recognizes a lawyer under the age of 40 for outstanding service to the legal profession and the community. She is currently a Barrister member of the Leo Bearman American Inn of Court, and was an Associate member from 1998 to 2000. In 2000, Lara served as the President of the Memphis Bar Association Young Lawyers Division, and had previously held the positions of Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer and Board Member of that organization.

Lara was President of the Family Law Section of the Memphis Bar Association in 1998. She has served on the Memphis Bar Association Board of Directors, and is currently a member of the Memphis Bar Foundation as well as the Tennessee Bar Foundation.

Lara has earned a BV* rating by Martindale-Hubble for her ethical standards and legal ability. This rating indicates an exemplary reputation and well-established practice, and reflects her peers rating her legal ability and ethical standards as “high to very high”.

Lara concentrates in the area of Domestic Relations, including divorce, child custody, visitation, child support, juvenile court matters and adoptions. Lara is also a Tennessee Rule 31 Listed Family Mediator.

Lara's presentation materials for her Continuing Legal Education Seminar, "Sharing Information About Your Client's Case With Third Parties" can be found here.