Ms. Cauthen received her bachelor of arts degree, cum laude, from Bethel College in 1986. She received her law degree in 1991 from California Western School of Law. Ms. Cauthen also attended Florida State University School of Law where she was a McGuire, Voorhis, and Wells Scholar. Ms. Cauthen was admitted to practice in California in 1992 and in Minnesota in 1995. She is a former adjunct professor at Bethel College, Minnesota.

Ms. Cauthen is a member of the American Inns of Court, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. Chapter, where she served as Program Chair in 2006 and 2007, the San Diego County Bar Association and the California Bar Association. She is also a member of the Bar Association of Northern San Diego County, where she currently serves as Co-Chair of the Probate Section (2006 - 2008), Co-Chair of the Continuing Legal Education Committee (2008) and is a member of the Local Rules of Court Advisory Committee (2006 - 2008). In addition, Ms. Cauthen currently serves as President of the Lawyers Club, North County Division (2008 - 2009) and served as a 2007 Gala Committee Member for The Preuss School. She is also the Chair and Founder of the La Jolla Music Society's Pat Stein North County Concert Series and has served as a member of the Society's SummerFest Committee for the past three years.

Ms. Cauthen was named the 2005 North County Philanthropy Council Volunteer of the Year, is a 2006 YWCA Tribute to Women in Industry honoree and was named a Five Star Wealth Manager by San Diego Magazine in 2008.