Following graduation from UC Berkeley, Joy worked as a legislative analyst for the Youth Law Center where she focused on state and federal legislation to improve the lives of foster children. She also coordinated outreach for the California Youth Connection, an organization dedicated to involving foster youth in advocating for reform of the foster care system. Joy was granted special recognition from the California State Assembly for her advocacy on behalf of children. Since graduating from Yale Law School, Joy has been a staff attorney at the Youth Law Center and, most recently, has practiced civil litigation with her husband in their own firm. Joy has two children in the Encinitas School District.