Name Organization Speaking At
Barbara Seymour
Barbara Seymour represents lawyers, law firms, judges, and law students in matters related to ethics, professional discipline, and Bar admissions at Clawson & Staubes, LLC in Columbia. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Management and Marketing from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1990 and her Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia in 1993. Barbara worked as a trial lawyer until 2000 when she joined the staff of the Office of Disciplinary Counsel. She served as the Deputy Disciplinary Counsel from 2007 until 2017. Barbara is a member of the South Carolina Bar, the State Bar of Georgia, the Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers, the ABA Center for Professional Responsibility, and the South Carolina Women Lawyers Association. She currently serves on the Law Related Education, Professional Responsibility, Unauthorized Practice of Law, and Diversity Committees at the South Carolina Bar. She was a 2006 and 2011 Fellow of the National Institute for the Teaching of Ethics and Professionalism. She is the author of Trust Accounting for South Carolina Lawyers: An Annotated Practice Manual, published by the SC Bar. She has also taught a variety of Paralegal Studies courses since 1998.
Clawson & Staubes, LLC
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Chris Paton
Chris began his legal career serving as law clerk to Circuit Judge Joseph M. McLaughlin of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and District Judge Raymond J. Dearie of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. He also worked as an associate at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, LLP, and Rosen Law Firm, LLC, before starting Paton Law Firm. Chris is "AV" rated by Martindale-Hubbell and is a former Chair of the Family Law Section Council of the South Carolina Bar. Chris devotes his practice primarily to family law with a focus on appeals. He lives in Charleston with his wife Laura Paton, also an attorney, and their two daughters.
Chris Paton LLC
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Emily Lucey
Gallivan, White & Boyd, PA
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James McLaren
James T. McLaren has been listed in The Best Lawyers
in America for nearly two decades. He is listed in the S.C.
Super Lawyers publication under the Family Law designation. He and his
firm have received the highest rating ("AV"), afforded lawyers for
legal ability and ethics, in the Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory .
His statewide practice primarily involves complex
matrimonial litigation and trial work in addition to dispute resolution
including mediation and arbitration as an American Academy of Matrimonial
Lawyers - Certified Mediator and Arbitrator.
He has held numerous positions affiliated with Family Law
including admission as a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers,
where he is currently serving as National President and on various committees.
He is a Fellow in the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He
has served as President of the South Carolina Chapter of the International
Network of Boutique Law Firms since 2007. He has served as President of the
South Carolina Chapter and National Delegate. He is a Diplomate in the American
College of Family Trial Lawyers. He has served as chair of the Family Law
Sections of the South Carolina Bar, the South Carolina Trial Lawyer’s
Association (now the American Association for Justice), and the Richland County
Bar Association. He is a longstanding member of the Family Law Sections of the
American Bar Association, the American Association For Justice, the South
Carolina Bar, the South Carolina Association For Justice, and the Richland
County Bar Association. Mr. McLaren has authored numerous articles and has been
a speaker in over 95 Family Law Continuing Legal Education Seminars, including
state and national Judicial Conferences and New Family Court Judges Schools. He
also co-authored important Legislation that impacts Family Law in South
Carolina.
Private Practice:
Founding
Partner, McLaren & Lee, Attorneys-at-Law Statewide
practice limited to Family Law matters (private practice established 1976)
Offices Held:
American
Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, National (President, 2014-2015;
President-Elect 2013-2014; First Vice President, 2012- 2013; Vice
President, 2008-2012; Secretary 2007; Executive Committee, 2007-2014;
Board of Governors, 2005-2006; Board of Directors, AAML Foundation,
2007-2012; Special Advisor, AAML Foundation, 2013-2014). American
Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, National (Chair/Member, Law Office
Management Committee, 2005-2012; Member, Admissions Procedures Committee,
2004-2007; Co-Chair/Member, Website Committee, 2005-2012; CLE Chair,
2010-2011; Member, Continuing Legal Education Committee, 2006-2007;
Member, ALI Commission, 2006-2007; Member, Best Practices Committee,
2008-2011; AAML Sales and Marketing Committee, 2007-2008; Member,
Executive Committee Sponsorship, 2008; Chair/Member, Nominating Committee,
2008-2009, 2013/14; Chair/Member, Policies Committee, 2011-2013; Member,
Post-Nuptial and Cohabitation Agreements Committee, 2011-2013;
Chair/Member, Strategic Plan Implementation Committee, 2011-2014; Member,
Social Media Committee, 2011-2012; Member, Webinar Committee, 2011-2012;
Chair/Member, AAML/ABA FLS, 2012-2014; Co-Chair, Council of Committee
Chairs, 2012-2013; Chair/Member, Publications Review Committee, 2012-2014;
Chair/Member, Contracts Committee, 2012-2014; Policy Publication
Committee, 2013-2014; Website and Technology Committee Liaison, 2013-2014;
Chair, National Admissions Board of Examiners, 2013-2014). American
Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, South Carolina Chapter (President
2001-2002; President-Elect, 1999-2000; Vice President 1997-98; National
Delegate to Board of Governors, 2005-2007) International
Network of Boutique Law Firms, SC Chapter President, 2007-2014 South
Carolina Bar, Family Law Section (Chair, 1991-92; Chair-Elect,1990-91;
Secretary, 1989-90; Section Delegate, 1995-96; Council, 1988-95) South
Carolina Bar, Practice and Procedure Committee (Chair, Family Law
Sub-Committee, 1989-1995; Chair, Sub- Committee on Jurisdiction in the
Family Courts, 1979-80) South
Carolina Bar, Lawyer-Accountant Relationship Committee (Chair, 1998-99) South
Carolina Association for Justice (formerly SC Trial Lawyers Association),
Family Law Section (Co-Chair, Family Court Judicial Liaison, 1983-1986;
Chair, 1983-84; Vice-Chair, 1982-83; Secretary, 1981-82;
Treasurer,1980-81)
Distinctions:
Certified
Matrimonial Mediation Trained, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers,
1995. Certified
Family Court Mediator, SC Bar and Dispute Resolution Services, 1995. Certified
Matrimonial Arbitrator Trained, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers,
2000. Named,
2007 Fellow of the Year, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers of
Matrimonial Lawyers. Named, The
Best Lawyers in America , Family Law designation, 1993 through 2015
Editions. Named, South
Carolina Super Lawyers , 2008-2014 Named,
Legal Elite of the Midlands, Columbia Business Monthly, 2013-2014. Named,
Legal Elite, Greater Columbia Business Monthly, 2011-2012. Supreme
Court Appointee, South Carolina Symposium - Families In Court, sponsored
by National Association of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, 1991. Lecturer,
New Family Court Judges Orientation School, 2004-2005 Received
"AV" designation from Martindale Hubbell , 1996-2014. McLaren
& Lee, 2009-2014 Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers . Medical
University of South Carolina , Board of Visitors, 2000-2004
Contributing Author:
South
Carolina Equitable Apportionment Act, §20-7-471, et. seq., S.C. Code of
Laws South
Carolina Alimony Statute, §20-3-130, S.C. Code of Laws South
Carolina Family Court Handbook, 1992, 1993 and 1996 Editions
Speaker:
Various
Family Law topics, South Carolina Bar, South Carolina Trial Lawyers
Association, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and Mandatory
Judicial and Continuing Legal Education Seminars.
Preparatory and Legal Education:
University
of South Carolina, B.A., 1973 University
of South Carolina School of Law, J.D., 1976
Bar Admissions:
South
Carolina Bar, 1976 U.S.
Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit, 1976 U.S.
District Court, South Carolina District, 1976 U.S.
Supreme Court, 2005
Bar and Professional Memberships:
American
Bar Association, Family Law Section The
American Association for Justice, Family Law Section South
Carolina Bar Association, Family Law Section South
Carolina Association for Justice, Family Law Section Richland
County Bar Association, Family Law Section American
Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Certified Fellow American
College of Family Trial Lawyers, Diplomate International
Network of Boutique Law Firms, SC Chapter President
McLaren & Lee
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Jenny Stevens
Jenny was born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina, and she is a graduate of the College of Charleston and Charleston School of Law . Jenny is an experienced attorney who holds an AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell , and she is a frequent speaker at local, state, and national continuing legal education seminars. She also planned and moderated the annual Guardian ad Litem training, sponsored by the South Carolina Bar, for many years.
Jenny also edited both editions of The South Carolina Guardian ad Litem Toolkit , the second edition of which was published in November 2022 by the South Carolina Bar CLE Division. This valuable resource has been very well received by judges and attorneys all across our state. She was one of only 18 attorneys in South Carolina to be selected to participate in the 2014 Leadership Academy sponsored by the SC Bar , and is a program graduate.
Jenny is an active member of the Spartanburg County Bar Association, the Greenville County Bar Association , the South Carolina Bar , the American Bar Association , the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts , and the South Carolina Women Lawyers' Association . Jenny previously served a three-year term on Charleston School of Law's Alumni Association Board , and she has previously served as Vice-Chair of the American Bar Association Law Practice Division's Solo & Small Firm Interest Group . She most recently served several years on the Board of the Hub City Writers' Project . She's a regular guest lecturer for classes associated with the USC Upstate Child Development and Family Studies degree program.
When she isn't working as an attorney and managing partner, Jenny enjoys spending time with her husband, their four cats, their large blended family, as well as her extended family throughout South Carolina. As a lifelong bibliophile, she always sneaks time to read any book that catches her fancy. Some of her favorite authors are Simon Sinek , David Joy , Wiley Cash , Michael Farris Smith , Ann Rule , Richard Powers , Mary Higgins Clark , Marie Benedict , and Therese Anne Fowler .
Practice Areas
Private Guardian ad Litem in Family Court cases Divorce Litigation Consulting Services Child Custody Litigation Consulting Services Child Custody Mediation Law Practice Management Education
Certified Family Court Private Guardian ad Litem , 2010-Present Certified Family Court Mediator, 2015 – 2017 Graduate, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Institute for Family Law Associates, 2014 Charleston School of Law, Juris Doctor, 2009 College of Charleston, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, 2007 Professional Associations
Spartanburg Bar Association Greenville County Bar Association South Carolina Bar American Bar Association South Carolina Women Lawyers Association Member, Association of Family and Conciliation Courts Board Member, HubCity Writers Project, 2019-2023 Awards and Recognition
Board Member, Hub City Writer's Project 2019-2023 SuperLawyers Rising Star, 2019-2020 Graduate, Leadership Spartanburg, 2019 AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell Planner & Moderator, Annual Guardian ad Litem Training & Update Seminar for South Carolina Bar, 2012-2017 and 2022-Present Graduate, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Family Law Associates Institute, 2014 Graduate, South Carolina Bar Leadership Academy, 2014 Co-Chair, Charleston County Fast-Track Custody Initiative Committee, 2011-2012 Member, Charleston School of Law Alumni Association Board, 2011-2014 Publications
“The South Carolina Guardian ad Litem Toolkit” edited by Jenny R. Stevens, published by South Carolina Bar CLE Division (First Edition, Mar. 2014; Second Edition, Nov. 2022) South Carolina Child Custody Blog, 2021-2023 SCFamilyLaw Blog Contributor, 2012-Present
The Stevens Law Group, LLC
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Krystal Watson
Krystal is the President and CEO of Project R.E.S.T. a 501(c)(3) domestic violence and sexual assault agency providing shelter, personal and legal advocacy as well as therapy services to victims in Spartanburg, Cherokee and Union counties.
Krystal previously worked as a Staff Attorney at Project R.E.S.T. while operating her law practice, K. LAWS, LLC, a Real Estate, Family Law, and Estate Planning law firm she founded in 2020.
Krystal obtained her Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from Norfolk State University and earned her Juris Doctor degree from Western Michigan University, Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Krystal is licensed to practice law in both South Carolina and Michigan.
Prior to opening her law practice, K.
LAWS, LLC, Krystal served as the Managing Attorney at South Carolina Legal
Services, Inc. in Spartanburg, and Rock Hill.
As a civil legal aid attorney, Krystal devoted her legal career to representing low-income families, victims of domestic violence and senior citizens in civil matters such as divorces, custody disputes, adoptions, as well as defending evictions, foreclosures, and other property disputes.
Over the years, Krystal has volunteered as a speaker for the SC Bar’s Law School for Non-Lawyer’s program as well as other legal clinics and educational series offered to the public by the South Carolina Bar. Krystal is very passionate about ensuring equal access to civil legal assistance for all South Carolinians.
Krystal currently serves on the SC Bar
Board of Governors, At-Large Member, and has served on the SC Bar House of
Delegates, for the 7th Circuit, since 2020.
Project R.E.S.T.
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Marie-Louise Ramsdale
Marie-Louise
is the principal lawyer of Ramsdale Family Law in Mount Pleasant, South
Carolina, and practices solely in the area of family law. A cum laude graduate
of Harvard Law School, she has served as President of the South Carolina Bar
Foundation, as Chair of the South Carolina Bar Family Law Section Council, and
as a member of numerous committees of the South Carolina Bar. Marie-Louise
holds an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell. She is a frequent speaker at legal
education programs on family law issues. She is also working to address
wellness issues for members of the legal profession through the Charleston
County Bar.
Ramsdale Law Firm
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Michele Patrao Forsythe
Judge Michèle Patrão Forsythe is a
first-generation American. She is of Portuguese, Brazilian, and Spanish
heritage. Judge Forsythe is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese. On occasion, she
is even fluent in French.
Judge Forsythe attended La Universidad Nacional
Autónoma de México, in Mexico City. She is a graduate of the University of
Maryland Baltimore County, with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, and a
minor in International Affairs.
Prior to pursuing her legal career, Judge
Forsythe worked at The White House under President William Jefferson Clinton,
and The United States Senate for Senator Paul Spyros Sarbanes. Judge Forsythe
also worked for the Department of Defense.
Judge Forsythe is a graduate of the University of
South Carolina School of Law. Prior to
her election, she was a partner with Query Sautter Forsythe, LLC. She tried
numerous cases in the Family Court, the Court of Common Pleas, the Court of
General Sessions, the United States District Court, and argued before the
Fourth Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals.
Among other associations, Judge Forsythe is a
past member of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges; a past
Member of the South Carolina Bar House of Delegates, a current member of the
South Carolina Family Court Bench Bar Committee; the James L. Petigru Inn of
Court; and the South Carolina Family Law Inn of Court. Judge Forsythe is also
the Chair of the South Carolina Judicial Branch Technology Working Group. Judge
Forsythe is a South Carolina Liberty Fellow, and a member of the Aspen Global
Leadership Network. She frequently speaks on topics involving youth,
particularly in juvenile justice and human trafficking.
S.C. Family Court
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Patricia Ravenhorst
Patricia (Tricia) Ravenhorst serves as the General Counsel for the SC Coalition Against Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault (SCCADVASA) where she provides legal support for the organization; legal technical assistance and education to SCCADVASA’s 22 member organizations and other professional partners and management of SCCADVASA’s contract and pro bono attorney program.
Ms. Ravenhorst has been training attorneys, criminal justice
professionals and the community on the unique legal needs of survivors of
crime; immigration and human trafficking for over 20 years. Prior to joining
SCCADVASA, Tricia served as the Director and Attorney of the SC Victim
Assistance Network’s (SCVAN) Immigrant Victim Program, where she established
the organization’s specialized legal and supportive services to immigrant
survivors of crime and the S.C. Statewide Immigrant Victim Coalition, which brings
together professionals throughout the state working with immigrant survivors of
domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and human trafficking.
Prior to joining SCVAN, Tricia practiced employment and
immigration law at the Wyche Law Firm in Greenville, South Carolina. Her prior
work experience also includes internships with the South African Secretariat
for Safety and Security in Pretoria, South Africa. Tricia earned her Juris
Doctor and Master of Arts in Political Science/Certification in Latin American
Studies from Duke University and her Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs
from Florida State University.
Tricia is licensed to practice before both federal and state courts in South Carolina. She is a member of SC Bar House of Delegates, the American Immigration Lawyers Association and the National Association for Victim’s Rights Attorneys. In honor of her work with immigrant victims, Tricia received the Greenville County Guardian ad Litem Program’s “Ethel M. Piper Angel Award”; was named as one of Greenville’s “Best and Brightest Under 35” by the Greenville Magazine and as one of Greenville’s “Most Beautiful Women” by Greenville’s TALK Magazine; received the Riley Institute’s Diversity Leadership Award for International Diversity and the SC Lawyer’s Weekly Leadership in Law Award; and is member of the 2012 Class of the Liberty Fellowship.
SC Coalition Against Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault
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R. Smith
The Honorable R. Chadwick Smith is a lifelong resident of
South Carolina. Judge Smith received a B.A. from Winthrop University in 1994
and a J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1999. After
graduating from law school, Judge Smith served as law clerk for Judge John C.
Hayes, III of the Sixteenth Circuit Court of South Carolina from 1999 to 2000.
At the end of his clerkship, he served as Assistant Solicitor in the Sixteenth
Circuit Solicitor’s Office from 2000 to 2001. He then entered private practice
in Rock Hill from 2001 to 2013 as an associate with the law firm Harrelson,
Hayes and Guyton and then as a sole practitioner. He served as a staff attorney
for the SCDSS from 2013 to 2021 and then as the managing attorney for the SCDSS
legal departments in York and Union counties from 2021 until his election to
the bench.
Judge Smith practiced family law exclusively for twenty-two
years, with an emphasis in Family Court litigation. He represented clients in
the private and public sectors before the Family Court and the South Carolina
Court of Appeals. He represented clients in a wide array of family law matters,
including divorce and equitable division; child custody and visitation; child
and spousal support; adoption; and abuse and neglect. He was a certified Family
Court mediator and mediated numerous cases involving complex marital
litigation; child custody; spousal support; property and debt division; and
child visitation. He served as guardian ad litem for numerous children subject
to cases involving custody disputes; modification of custody; visitation;
adoption; and abuse and neglect. He represented the SCDSS and litigated
numerous complex cases involving abuse and neglect of children.
Judge Smith served as a member of the Resolution of Fee Disputes Board for the
Sixteenth Judicial Circuit; a member of the South Carolina Bar Law Related
Education Committee; the South Carolina Bar Children’s Law Committee; a scoring
judge for high school and middle school mock trial competitions throughout
South Carolina; an instructor for Law School for Non-Lawyers; and Secretary and
Treasurer of the York County Bar Association.
Judge Smith is an active member of his church and has served
as a deacon, a youth Sunday School teacher and as a member of the Board of
Deacons. He served as a board member of the Boys and Girls Club of York County
and volunteered as a youth soccer and basketball coach. He is a member of the
Kiwanis Club of Rock Hill and has served as a volunteer with the Terrific Kids
Program.
Judge Smith was elected by the South Carolina General Assembly as Family Court Judge, Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, Seat 3, on April 17, 2024. He began his service on the bench on July 1, 2024. He is married to April Smith and they are proud parents of two sons. He enjoys traveling with his family and playing golf.
S.C. Judicial Branch
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Sean Knuth
Sean B. Knuth, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist who specializes in forensically-informed psychological evaluations and psychological/psycho-educational testing. His private practice is focused on child custody litigation-related evaluations and consultation.
Dr. Knuth completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara and earned his Doctor of Philosophy in School Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Knuth completed a dual appointment pre-doctoral internship program through UNC Hospital's Forensic Psychiatry Services in Chapel Hill and Durham Public Schools in Durham, North Carolina. In 2011 he relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina and completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Southeast Psych. He also spent nine years as a Forensic Psychologist and Director of Training at the Mecklenburg County Forensic Evaluations Unit.
SBKPhD
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Thomas Martin
Dr. Thomas Martin is an actively practicing psychiatrist for over 25 years, specializing in forensic and general psychiatry. Dr. Martin's forensic experience includes criminal, civil, and family court cases both at the state and federal levels. He provides forensic risk assessments, competency, criminal responsibility, and capacity to conform evaluations for both prosecution and defendant teams. Dr. Martin also carries a caseload of psychotherapy patients at his private practice. Dr. Martin has previous experience as a medical director, which include residential treatment of adult and juvenile sex offenders and substance abuse.
Dr. Martin is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) and maintains memberships in the American Psychiatric Association (APA), South Carolina Psychiatric Association (SCPA), and American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law (AAPL). He also maintains his medical license in Georgia and Texas.
He enjoys spending time with his pets, visiting state parks
and beaches, and watching classic movies. Dr. Martin splits his time between
Columbia and Charleston trying out all of the best restaurants.
Undergraduate School
University of Maryland
Master's of Biomedical Science
Hood College
Medical School
Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences
Psychiatric Residency
San Antonio, Texas
Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship
USC School of Medicine in Columbia
Martin Psychiatric Services
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Tom Stagg
Tom joined HopeWay in 2023 as a Primary Therapist specializing in Veteran and First Responder mental health. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), he provides evidence-based individual therapy and group therapy utilizing an array of therapeutic modalities. He works collaboratively with each client to build an individualized treatment plan. Tom specializes in Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing Therapy, Exposure Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy.
Working With Tom Tom's approach to treatment is eclectic but he starts from an Attachment Style perspective. Throughout his career, he gained expertise in trauma treatment as he noticed that upwards of 70% of the Veteran clients on his caseload experienced trauma early in life and also while enlisted. Ultimately, he works with each client to improve his/her/their quality of life.
Previous Experience Prior to HopeWay, Tom worked for the Veterans Administration for over 15 years. Through his various roles, he provided individual and group therapy for Veterans dealing with addictive disorders, was a Program Director for a substance use disorder residential program and then transferred to the Access Team for mental health services. On the Access Team, Tom helped develop a system to get Veterans into the VA quicker and connected with the appropriate services. Outside of work, Tom enjoys outdoor activities, hiking, cooking, reading and spending time with friends.
HopeWay
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Wendy Bowen
W e nd y M . Bo w e n i s a d mi t te d t o pr a c ti c e i n bo t h s t at e a nd f e d e r a l c our t s i n S ou t h C a ro l i na a nd
i s al s o a d m it t e d t o t he U n i t e d S t a te s Court of
A pp e a l s for t he
F our t h C i r c u it . S he ea r n e d h e r B. A .
i n H i s t ory from t he C o lle g e of C h a r le s t on a nd h e r J . D . from t he
J a c ob D . F u c h s b e rg La w C e n t e r
a t T ouro Co l l e ge i n N e w Y ork. We ndy i s c urr e n tl y pur s u i ng h e r D o ct or a t e i n L a w a nd P o lic y a t
Li b e r t y U n i v e r s it y O n li n e .
D ur i ng la w s c hoo l , We ndy r e mai n e d d e e p l y i nv o l v e d i n s t ud e n t l ea d e r s h i p, h o l d i ng e x ec u ti ve bo a rd po s iti ons w i t h t h e M i nor i t y
S t ud e n t B a r Ass o cia t i on, t h e B l ac k La w S t ud e n t s Ass o ciati on,
a nd
t he W o m e n’s B a r Ass o cia t i on. S he al s o s e rv e d a s a N o t e s a nd C o mme n t s E d it or for t h e J ou r nal of t h e Su ff o l k Ac ad e m y o f L a w . We ndy g ai n e d ea r l y le g a l e xp e r ie n c e
t hrough a n i n te rn s h i p
w it h t he N e w Y ork
S tat e A t t orn e y G e n e r a l ’s O ff ic e i n
S uffo l k Coun t y .
F o ll o w i ng
gr a du a ti on, W e ndy b e g a n
h e r ca r e e r
a t a nonprof i t org a n i za t i on,
prov i d i ng
prof e ss i on a l t r a i n i ng a nd c o mm u n it y e du c a ti on on do me s ti c v i o le n ce , s e xu a l a ss a u l t a nd c h il d
a bu s e . S he al s o r e pr e s e n te d v i ct i m s of do me s ti c
v i o le n c e i n S ou t h C a r o li na f a mil y c our t s . A f te r f i ve y ea rs of d e d ic a te d w ork i n f a m i l y la w , We n dy s e rv e d a s a pro s ec u t or for t he C it y of
F l or e n ce , S ou t h C a r o li n a . S he la t e r t r a n s i ti on e d b r ie f l y i n t o r e a l e s t at e la w b e fore r et urn i ng t o h e r
p a ss i on for
f a mil y
la w
w it h t h e S ou t h C a ro l i na D e p a r tme nt of S o c ia l S e r v ice s .
We ndy i s t h e found e r
a nd
ma n a g i ng a tt orn e y of L i g h t h o us e F am il y La w , LL C , l o c a te d i n
Co l u m b ia , S o u t h C a ro l i n a . S he f o c u s e s e x cl u s i v el y on f a mil y la w , s e rv i ng c l ie n t s a s a n a t t orn e y, ce r ti f ie d m e d i a t or, a nd gu a r d ia n a d li t em . H e r prof e s s i on a l a ff i li a ti ons i n c l ude t h e S ou t h C a ro l i na
B a r
F a mil y La w Coun c i l ,
t he
S ou t h C a ro l i na B lac k L a w y e rs Ass o ciati on, t h e N ati o n a l
Ass o ciati on of Coun s e l for C h il dr e n (Bron z e M e m b e r), t he A me r i ca n P rof e ss i on a l S o ci e t y on t he A bu s e of Ch il d r e n, a nd t he A me r ica n B a r Ass o cia t i on. S he i s a S ou t h C a ro li n a C e r ti f i e d F a m il y Court M e d iat or.
A proud mem b e r of A l pha K a p p a A l pha S oror i t y , In c orpor a te d, We ndy i s p a ss i on a t e
a bo u t
c o mm un i t y
s e rv ic e a nd a c ti v e l y p a r ti c i p a t e s i n c oun cil s a nd c o mm i tt e e s d e d ic a te d t o pr e v e n t i ng f a mil y a nd d a ti ng v i o le n c e . In a d d iti on t o bu i l d i ng h e r la w pr a ct i ce , s he i s w ork i ng t o l a un c h F am il y O p t i o n s , a s up e rv i s e d
v i s it a ti on a nd me d ia ti on ce n te r s e rv i ng R ic h la nd a nd Ch e s te r f iel d Coun tie s . S he al s o lea ds t he L e a r n 2Love B ei ng - H e r c o mm u n it y, w h ic h off e rs on li ne c our s e s ,
i n-p e r s on e v e n t s a nd po d ca s t s d e s i g n e d t o h el p w o me n grow i n em o t i on a l i n t el l i g e n c e
a nd t r a n s form t h e i r li v e s .
We ndy h a s b e e n m a rr ie d t o h e r hu s b a nd, Corn e li u s , for t w e n t y -f i v e y e a r s . T h e y a re t he proud
p a r e n t s of
t w o d a ugh t e r s , S h a qu il a a nd Cor t n e y.
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Whitney Danso
Dr. Whitney Danso, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist in North and South Carolina. She obtained her doctorate degree in clinical psychology from Palo Alto University in Palo Alto, California. Dr. Danso's training and educational background has provided her with a broad range of training experiences in various therapeutic settings working with culturally and diagnostically diverse individuals.
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