Ms. Allen graduated from Brigham Young University Law School in 1997. While at BYU, she served for several years as a representative in the BYU School Relations department, and was elected to be the Law School's representative to the American Bar Association. While in college she also studied at Moscow State University, and with BYU extension programs in Vienna, London, and Jerusalem. She also has interned with Senator Jake Garn in Washington, D.C..

Ms. Allen taught for several years as an adjunct professor at BYU Law School as well as Utah Valley State College.

She was appointed by Utah Governor Michael Leavitt to serve on the Legislative Process Committee. She is now involved in several local Cedar City committees organized by Mayor Gerald Sherratt. She is an active Rotarian.

She grew up in Richfield, Utah, where she served as Senior Class President.