Meet Family Law Attorney Heather J. Williams
Personal Statement
Going through a divorce or a custody proceeding is often one of the most stressful and life-changing events in a person’s life. I have found that while the challenges of helping people cope with the legal and emotional issues surrounding this time are difficult, they are also very rewarding. The practice of family law requires me to have a working knowledge of a broad range of topics, including real estate, financial issues, tax law, and civil litigation. Because every case is different and the needs of every client are different I continually have the opportunity to learn new things. I enjoy the personal interaction I get to have with clients and take pride in the attention to detail I am able to provide to my cases. My background in working in family services with the Head Start program and previous work experiences with the Guardian ad Litem program and Child Protective Services has given me a unique sensitivity to helping people cope with personal issues.
Heather practiced family law with Herring Mills & Kratt, PLLC and Crawford & Crawford, LLP prior to joining Hilbert Law Firm in July 2009. In May 2010, Heather purchased Hilbert Divorce Law Firm and opened Williams Law Firm, PLLC which does business under the name Raleigh Divorce Law Firm. Heather is experienced in a variety of domestic issues, including child custody, child support, alimony, equitable distribution, absolute divorces, domestic violence, termination of parental rights, adoptions, and negotiation of separation agreements and prenuptial agreements.
Heather is a 2006 graduate of Wake Forest University School of Law. She served as a member of the Wake Forest Law Review and the Moot Court Board from 2004-2006. She served as a member of the Law Review Symposium Committee from 2004-2005 and was a member of the Law Review Editorial Staff from 2005-2006. She was a finalist in the George K. Walker first-year Moot Court competition, a quarterfinalist in the Stanley second-year competition, competed on the school's Criminal Law Moot Court team, and coached the Criminal Law team during her third year. She also participated in the Herbert J. Weschler National Criminal Law competition in Buffalo, New York.
During law school Heather also participated in the Domestic Violence Advocacy Center from 2003-2005 and in the Public Interest Law Organization from 2003-2006. During the summer of 2003 she received a public interest law grant to work for the Guardian ad Litem program serving abused and neglected children. During this internship, she wrote appellate briefs in termination of parental rights cases and worked on child custody cases involving abuse or neglect. After her second year of law school Heather completed a judicial externship with the Hon. Denise Hartsfield, which included rotations in domestic and juvenile court. She also clerked for Bailey & Dixon, LLP, working in the areas of litigation and administrative law. During her final year of law school, Heather interned with the Forsyth County Attorney's Office in the areas of child protective services and child support enforcement and also interned with the Forsyth County D.A.'s office.
Heather has remained active in public service, as a volunteer with the GAL program on and off since 2001 and working with Project Together from 2006-2009, a program which assists victims of domestic violence in obtaining civil domestic protective orders. She has also served on the Executive Board of the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers Family Law Section as the Communications Committee Chair since 2007. In this position, she worked to coordinate and implement state-wide public service projects.
Areas of Practice:
- 100% Family Law
Bar Admissions:
- North Carolina, 2006
Education:
- Wake Forest University School of Law, Winston Salem, North Carolina, 2006 J.D.
- Honors: Member, Moot Court Board
- Law Review: Wake Forest Law Review, 2004 - 2006
- Elon University, Burlington, North Carolina, 2002 B.A.
- Honors: Cum Laude
- Honors: All-American Scholar
- Honors: National Dean's List
- Major: Psychology
Professional Associations and Memberships:
- 18th Judicial District, 2006 - Present
- North Carolina Bar Association, 2006 - Present
- Wake County Bar Association
Past Employment Positions:
- Hilbert Law Firm, PLLC, family law associate, 7/09-5/10
- Crawford & Crawford, LLP, family law associate, 9/07-7/09
- Herring Mills & Kratt, PLLC, family law associate, 9/06-9/07
- Head Start, Family Service Worker, 2002 - 2003
Pro Bono Activities:
- Project Together, 2006 - 2009
- Guardian ad Litem Program, 2001 - 2006
Fraternities/Sororities:
- Phi Alpha Delta
- Sigma Kappa
Activities:
- Speaker and contributing author of manuscript for Equitable Distribution Workshop for Half Moon Seminars—June 15, 2009
- Author "A Comprehensive Approach to Providing Legal Services to Domestic Violence Victims"—North Carolina Advocates for Justice Trial Briefs, April 2009
- Panel speaker for North Carolina Advocates for Justice Continuing Legal Education on Parental Alienation—October 17, 2008
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