Lauren Lake

She presides over her own tabloid talk/courtroom series, Paternity Court, which began on September 23, 2013, and is produced by MGM Television. In this forum, Lake hears and decides paternity cases and renders DNA test results. The series has been designed to be a major competitor in the daytime television market for its courtroom series format and focus on paternity matters, both of which are formulas that currently do well in daytime.

Lake wrote her first book, "Girl! Let Me Tell You...," published in 2009. In the book, Lake answers questions about life and love, posed by single successful women. The book deals with everything from men, dating and relationships to expectations, feelings of loneliness, and the pursuit of dreams.

She has also pursued her interior decorating interests in the entertainment industry: She has participated in TLC shows such as While You Were Out and Trading Spaces. Further, from May 2007 through 2009, Lake hosted 47 episodes of HGTV's hit how-to show Spice Up My Kitchen. In this forum, she specialized in turning ordinary kitchens into kitchens of style.

Since 2006, Lake has run the Law Offices of Lauren Lake, located in New York, New York, Saddlebrook, New Jersey, and Southfield, Michigan. In this forum, she acts as the sole practitioner, responsible for establishing and maintaining client relationships. She represents clients in civil and criminal matters, including divorce, child custody and support, and paternity. Further, she has handled felony and misdemeanor trials, involving arson, criminal sexual conduct, theft, weapons, assault, and possession of controlled substances. She is a member of The Metropolitan Bar Association, Association of Black Women Lawyers, and Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association. Lake is the co-founder of the Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network (WEEN) which promotes the positive portrayal of women in entertainment and society.

She has made regular guest appearances on Dr. Phil and The View as a legal expert. Her other television appearances have included The Today Show, The O'Reilly Factor, The Bill Cunningham Show, Regis & Kelly, Montel Williams, and The Morning Show with Mike and Juliet. Lake has served as a guest host/anchor and legal analyst for MSNBC and TruTV. Since 2005, Lake has been a regular on-air commentator for various news programs on CNN, Headline News, Fox News Channel, and CNBC. In many of these guest appearances, Lake has shared her points of view on everything from current criminal trials, civil cases, race, politics, and women's issues to the latest in pop culture news and controversies.

In 1999, Lake relocated to New York City, determined to establish herself as an entertainer. She immediately began securing jobs singing background for multi-platinum selling artists, such as Mary J. Blige, Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs, Jay-Z, Dr. Dre, and Snoop Dogg. Lake then began writing and recording her own music and performing throughout the New York metropolitan area. She has produced album projects and secured label record deals for artists signed to her production company.

From 1999 to 2002, Lake was the vice president of DS Recordings Inc., where she discovered, signed, and developed new talent. Since September 2000, Lake has also been the co-owner of L Style Design Studios, LLC, in Fort Lee, N.J. In this forum, she provides full scale interior design services for clients, including updates, renovations, construction, and general contracting.

In June 1995, she was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan and began her law career as a criminal defense attorney. In June 2002, she was also admitted to the State Bar of New York and the State Bar of New Jersey, where her practice is predominantly devoted to entertainment and family law. Whilst engaged in her legal education she also pursued her creative passions and began designing professionally after graduating from law school.

Growing up, Lake sang, danced, and acted in plays. Her parents agreed to allow this as long as she kept up with her studies. Lake attended Mercy High School in Farmington Hills, Michigan, and was honored as a National Merit Scholar in 1986. In May 1990, Lake earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She earned a secondary teacher certification that same year. In May 1993, Lake earned a Juris Doctor from Wayne State University Law School in Detroit, Michigan.

Lauren Laniece Lake (born July 12, 1969) is an American family lawyer, author, interior designer, real estate developer, background singer, legal/relationship/life consultant, guest host, and talk show presenter.