Joyce E. Clifford graduated Magna Cum Laude from the College of Notre Dame in Belmont, California with a Bachelor of Arts in History. She went on to graduate from Santa Clara University, School of Law. While in law school she volunteered with the East San Jose Community Law Center helping low-income residents with employment law and wage and hour matters. Since graduating law school her practice has focused on construction defect, personal injury, and insurance coverage. She has unpublished opinions in the matters of Zurich Specialties London, LTD v Century Surety Company (2011) No. G042920 and Zurich Specialties London, LTD v Century Surety Company (2007) No. B187762. In her spare time, she enjoys flying her aerobatic airplane in complicated aerobatic routines. She is an avid world traveler visiting over 30 countries.