Kim was born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio. She attended Villa Maria Preparatory School in Pennsylvania before doing her undergraduate work at Denison University in Granville, Ohio.  She worked for several years as a training officer for the State before attending Law School at the University of Akron.

Kim has wide experience in criminal, family and civil law having practiced in 68 of the 88 counties in Ohio. She comes to WSM with a wealth of Domestic Relations and Juvenile court experience having worked as a hearing officer, the director of a Child Support Enforcement Agency and a Guardian ad Litem.

When not in court, Kim is the Executive Director of The Youngstown Shakespeare Company, which provides free Shakespeare in the park.  She also serves on the Pride Youngstown Board, which staged the first Pride Festival in the Youngstown area.  She is also a member of the Board of United Returning Citizens, which is dedicated to facilitating reentry into civic life for the formerly incarcerated.