Born and raised in Los Angeles, Bear grew up in Hermosa Beach and began her career at the Santa Monica Playhouse when she was 8. She took her acting skills to the competitive level for her high school speech and debate team where she earned state and national recognition. She studied creative writing and theatre at UCLA under the tutelage of Sandra and the late Dee Caruso. Bear received her J.D. from Pepperdine University School of Law and M.P.P from the School of Public Policy. As an attorney, she served on the executive board of the National Lawyers Guild Los Angeles Chapter. She practices civil and criminal appellate law and is admitted to the United States Supreme Court, 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, and Northern and Southern CA districts. She lives in West Los Angeles.