Laura Cabanilla attended college at Brigham Young University in 1980, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in English in 1986. During college she joined the U.S. Army Reserve
to fund her schooling and because of her desire to serve her country. She was the only female cadet enrolled in BYU’s ROTC program at that time, and the second woman Following her admission to the South Carolina Bar, Mary Fran practiced as a Marine Corps Judge Advocate serving as a Legal Assistance Attorney and Defense Counsel. She continued to serve in the United States Marine Corps Reserve until May of 2006 when she resigned her commission as a Major. After her release from active duty in 2002, Mary Fran became an Associate at Harvey & Battey, P.A. in Beaufort, South Carolina. She worked as their family law practitioner until 2005 when she opened her own practice in Beaufort. Mary Fran’s practice is concentrated commissioned through the program.
In 2010 Laura was deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Enduring Freedom; while she was based in Kuwait she travelled frequently to Iraq, Bahrain and Qatar, experiencing the Arab Spring first hand. She is a 1994 graduate of Brigham Young University’s J. Reuben Clark Law School. She previously worked as a prosecutor with the Utah County Attorney’s Office where she prosecuted many high-profile criminal cases. In 2000, Laura Cabanilla joined the law firm which is now Esplin|Weight.
Laura Cabanilla is a partner with the firm and shares in the ownership of the historic building where the firm is located. Her practice consists primarily of family law cases (including appointment on children’s advocacy cases) and criminal defense. She previously served on the Provo City Council which is a four-year term. Currently Laura serves on several boards including Utah Pet Partners (an organization that trains handlers and their therapy animal to conduct therapy visits at area hospitals and other organizations); Provo City Farmers Market; and Provo City Parks and Recreation Board.
She is married to Dave Cabanilla, an airline pilot with Federal Express and local land developer. They have four adult children: triplets: Paige, Cliff and Sierra and a
younger son Marc. Laura and her husband are the happy grandparents of 8 grandchildren. In her spare time, Laura oil paints and breeds Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.