Contact Information

I earned my Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree in 1984 from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. Prior to beginning my studies there I was employed in Pittsburgh by the National Labor Relations Board as a Field Examiner. From 1984 to 1989, I served two different federally funded legal services programs as a Staff Attorney, in Portsmouth, Ohio and then in Ashland, Kentucky. Upon moving to Wilmington with my husband in 1990, I was admitted to the bar on reciprocity and entered practice as an associate attorney at a small general practice firm. I opened my own solo practice in 1995.

I limit my practice to domestic relations consultations, negotiations, litigation, and mediation.  I am a member of the Family Law Sections of the American Bar Association, the North Carolina Bar Association, and the North Carolina Association of Professional Family Mediators. 

I have a special interest in working with victims of domestic violence. As a Legal Services attorney I frequently represented battered women seeking civil protection orders, and I've continued that practice as a private attorney since moving to North Carolina. I served on the Board of Directors of Domestic Violence Shelter and Services, Inc. from August 1990 until January 1998, the last two years as President. I continue to volunteer with the Shelter and for several years was a member of EVOLVE Wilmington, an informal interagency group that works on domestic violence prevention. On January 28, 2000 I spoke on "Effective Representation of Domestic Violence Victims" at the Regional Pro Bono attorney continuing legal education conference on domestic violence held in Wilmington.

My husband and I have a son who began college last year. I believe I've gained a lot of insight into the joys and challenges faced by my custody clients since becoming a mother myself! I am an active member of St. Andrew's-Covenant Presbyterian Church, having been raised in the Presbyterian Church as a child. I have a twin sister who teaches music and is a church organist and choir director in Virginia and a younger sister in Connecticut who is an ordained Presbyterian minister-turned-lawyer.

Areas of Practice

• Family Law
• Divorce

Litigation Percentage

• 50% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Bar Admissions

• North Carolina, 1990
• Ohio, 1984

Education

• The College of William and Mary, Marshall-Wythe School of Law, Williamsburg, Virginia, 1984
  J.D., Juris Doctor
  
  
• Allegheny College, Meadville, Pennsylvania, 1977
  Bachelor's Degree
  Major: Economics and Political Science
  
  

Classes/Seminars Taught

• Speaker, Effective Representation of Domestic Violence Victims, Regional Pro Bono attorney continuing legal education conference on domestic violence held in Wilmington.

Professional Associations and Memberships

• American Bar Association, Family Law Sections,
  Member
  
  
• North Carolina Bar Association,
  Member
  
  
• North Carolina Association of Professional Family Mediators,
  
  
  

Past Employment Positions

• National Labor Relations Board, Pittsburgh, PA, Field Examiner
• Federally-funded legal services programs, Portsmouth, Ohio, Staff Attorney
• Federally-funded legal services programs, Ashland, Kentucky, Staff Attorney
• Small General Practice Firm in Wilmington, NC, Associate Attorney

Pro Bono Activities

• Board of Directors of Domestic Violence Shelter and Services, Inc. from August 1990 until January 1998, the last two years as President.

Birth Information

• 1955, Virginia, United States of America