Tell Us Your Story | Call Today
Donna Dougherty is an extraordinary woman and was a lifeline to me during a painful season of my life.
I will forever be grateful to her for saying the difficult things to me that I needed to hear, acknowledge, and address. She knew exactly what to do and advocated for me like a lion protecting her cub.
I highly recommend Donna to anyone seeking a family law attorney. Her guidance, compassion and legal expertise were exactly what I needed during the tumultuous proceeding and I am pleased she advocated for and not against me. I think Donna is a superb attorney!
I can’t thank you enough for the care and concern provided by you and your team. It’s true that some things are priceless, and the guidance and good counsel you gave to me definitely qualifies.
Donna is the first lawyer I have met who is tough, has a sense of humor and a huge heart. Donna helped me through a custody dispute over my two daughters. I have had the experience of having to use other family lawyers in the past and Donna is the first one I have felt truly represented myself and my children’s best interests. She is an excellent listener and she truly heard and understood my position. I had a case that on the judicial scale is probably only a “three out of 10” but it was the biggest thing I had ever done in fighting for my daughters and Donna understood and respected that. I needed to feel like my lawyer was invested in my case, and she was.
Her approach is professional yet approachable and she is willing to go to court when needed. This is something I have discovered that is not common in family law lawyers and in my case, necessary. I have also realized that it made my position stronger to be prepared to go to court and Donna is excellent at that. She knows how to ask a question that will get to the bottom line. She is always quick to respond to phone calls and was conscious of our budget, but willing to spend time explaining things as needed. Donna was straightforward about what the process would entail and accurate about her cost estimate. Should it be necessary I would also gladly use her services again!
The most critical skill any advocate or counselor can have is the ability to listen, to understand, and to support the client. In a situation as full of emotion as a family separation or divorce, it is even more critical. Donna has this skill in abundance. Her active listening style and calm demeanor provide a comforting setting in which to make the critical decisions required in these situations. In my case, Donna established rapport, and impressed me with her skills and knowledge of the law. She allowed me to vent my frustrations without letting me ramble on — she kept me focused and on topic. She listened and supported my wishes, and brought me back on track when I was tempted to escalate in response to my ex-husband’s actions. She had an uncanny ability to discern my ex’s motivations and provided an extremely creative solution to our dispute. She protected my interests as if they were her own.
If you are angry and want to fight, Donna knows how to win. If you want to negotiate and settle, Donna will help you do that by keeping you on track and calming your anger. My spouse wanted to fight dirty, and Donna’s knowledge of law and procedure prevented him from bullying me. Her assistance during this incredibly difficult time in my life was the sole reason I reached a successful settlement, finalized my divorce and am happily getting on with my life.
My search for a competent and compassionate law practice started and ended with Donna Dougherty and her staff of talented law professionals. Initially, I thought I could represent myself, as I had in the past, but I quickly discovered that doing so would be a mistake. Even though it is theoretically possible to learn enough about the proper rules, procedures, and etiquette required to represent oneself, it is difficult, if not impossible to maintain the necessary composure to present a solid case especially when it comes to family matters. Donna, Caitlin, Gretchen, Lisa, and Cristina supported me when I needed the support to help me accomplish what I needed to for my family.
Donna Dougherty was the perfect attorney for me. If I were looking for a medical doctor, I wouldn’t want to be forced to choose between the reassuring friendly bedside manner of Marcus Welby versus the knowledgeable capability of Gregory House. I didn’t want to have to make that kind of choice for legal representation either. In Donna, I found a wonderful combination of legal knowledge and ability with a warm heart and true concern for her clients.
The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.
© 2023 All Rights Reserved.
9300 Grant Avenue, Suite 200, Manassas, VA 20110