Shelice R. Tolbert concentrates her practice primarily in insurance defense with a focus on commercial litigation and coverage issues.  Some of her cases have included trucking cases, wrongful death claims, punitive damage claims, intoxication related accidents, soft tissue injuries, and discrimination claims. Shelice also has experience in corporate and business law including business entity formation and contract law.      

Since joining Kopka Pinkus Dolin & Eads in 2003, Shelice has tried over 20 cases throughout the State of Indiana, as well as the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana.  While defending a rear end collision case in which liability was disputed, she obtained a defense verdict after the jury deliberated for only 10 minutes.  In defending another rear end collision case in which liability was admitted but damages were disputed, she obtained a jury verdict awarding $0 damages to the plaintiff.  Shelice has also been successful in the dismissal of claims for punitive damages in automobile cases involving intoxication.

Prior to joining Kopka Pinkus Dolin & Eads, Shelice practiced with Willie Harris & Associates.  While there she practiced personal injury law, workers compensation defense, corporate and business law, medical malpractice, collections and employment discrimination. 

Shelice received her J.D. from Valparaiso University School of Law in May 2000.  She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management from Wittenberg University, Springfield, Ohio in 1997.  She was admitted to the Indiana Bar in November 2000.  She is admitted to practice before U.S. District Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of Indiana, and the Supreme Court of Indiana.  During law school, she clerked for Willie Harris & Associates in Gary, Indiana, with exposure to family, criminal law and personal injury.  Shelice also clerked for the Crown Point firm of Austgen, Reed & Decker, P.C. which exposed her to primarily corporate and business law as well as contract law.

Her professional affiliations include the Indiana State Bar Association, Lake County Bar Association, American Bar Association, and the Porter County Chapter of the American Inns of Court.  Shelice is currently the President Elect of the James C. Kimbrough Bar Association.

She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, serving as financial secretary of the Gary Alumnae Chapter as well as a member of the advisory council to the Nu Eta collegiate chapter of the Sorority.  Shelice is the current board chair of Jewels of Fortitude Foundation, a not for profit organization.  She is a member of the scholarship committee of The Legacy Foundation and a board member of the Gary Literacy Coalition.  Since the fall of 2007, Shelice has been an adjunct professor at Valparaiso University School of Law, where she teaches Trial Practice I.