Mary Beth Long, Trial and Appellate Attorney
Biography:
Family law encompasses a broad range of legal issues which arise when family relationships fail. These cases often include complicated economic and emotional entanglements. Based in Richmond, Virginia, Ms. Long dedicates her work to the practice of family law, helping individuals from throughout Virginia untangle their lives.
As a former journalist, Ms. Long particularly enjoys utilizing her well honed writing skills to zealously represent clients in the detail-oriented appeals process where arguments are won or lost largely on paper.
Before attending law school, Ms. Long worked for the House of Delegates at the Virginia General Assembly as a nonpartisan staff member for several years before moving on to a career as a print journalist. At the urging of a judge whose court she covered, she entered law school at age 30. While attending the University of Richmond, her writing skills earned her a spot on the Law Review and she was named the publication’s Manuscripts Editor in 1998-1999. Her oral argument skills were tested as part of the school’s annual moot court competition and she was rewarded with a slot on the Moot Court Board. In her last year of law school, she won the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Virginia Chapter essay contest.
Following law school, Ms. Long joined the law firm now known as ButlerCook, LLP, where she practiced family law for seven years with Donald K. Butler, Nancy Douglas Cook and Mark Michelsen. She formed VA Family Law, PLC in 2007.
Ms. Long's VA Family Law Blog, which reflects on divorce and family law issues, can be found here.
Admitted to Practice:
1999, Virginia, and U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
Education:
Virginia Commonwealth University, B.S., 1991
University of Richmond, T.C. Williams School of Law, J.D., 1999
Appellate Experience Includes:
Lewis v. Lewis, 271 Va. 520; 628 S.E.2d 314 (2006)
Utsch v. Utsch, 266 Va. 124; 581 S.E.2d 507 (2003)
Campbell v. Campbell, Record No. 0983-06-2 , Court of Appeals of Virginia, April 10, 2007
Vilseck v. Vilseck, 45 Va. App. 581; 612 S.E.2d 746 (2005)
Congdon v. Congdon, 40 Va. App. 255; 578 S.E.2d 833 (2003)
As well as a number of unpublished Court of Appeals cases.
Mary Beth Long, Esquire
VA Family Law, PLC
Boulders II
7400 Beaufont Springs Drive, Suite 300
Richmond, Virginia 23225
866.381.3779 (toll-free telephone and fax)
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