Allyson E. Hilliard graduated, cum laude, from Northern Kentucky University in 2000 with a BA in Criminal Justice and with an area of concentration in Public Administration.  During her college years, Ms. Hilliard worked as a licensed private investigator for Northern Kentucky Investigative Services, Inc.  While at NKU she received several honors including: The National Dean’s List; Alpha Phi Sigma – The National Criminal Justice Honor Society; Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges; Golden Key National Honor Society; Dean’s, Honor’s and Scholar’s Lists; and Order of Omega – The Greek Honor Society.  

 In 2003 Ms. Hilliard graduated from Appalachian School of Law and was admitted to practice law before the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia and before the Federal District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.  She is also admitted to practice in the United States Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal.  While in law school Ms. Hilliard was a member of Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity and Who’s Who: American Law Students.  She also received two Book Awards and earned a merit scholarship.  During law school, Ms. Hilliard completed an externship with the United States Department of Justice in Washington D.C. and clerked for a law firm in northern Kentucky.  Upon graduation, she spent two years as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Charles E. King, Jr., Kanawha County Circuit Court Judge.  

In 2005 Ms. Hilliard joined Swartz Law Offices, PLLC and has practiced primarily in the realm of family and domestic relations law.  Since 2005 Ms. Hilliard has devoted nearly 100% of her time to domestic relations cases, including issues involving divorce, equitable distribution, spousal support, child support, parenting, relocation, modifications, prenuptial and post nuptial agreements, etc.  Ms. Hilliard currently serves on the Kanawha County Family Court Bench and Bar Committee and organizes volunteer mediation sessions for the Kanawha County Family Court.  Ms. Hilliard is frequently retained as a private mediator in complex domestic relation matters.

 Ms. Hilliard is a member of the Kanawha County Bar Association, Judge John A. Field, Jr. American Inn of Court and Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels.  In 2014 she was appointed by Governor Earl Ray Tomblin to serve on the West Virginia Support Enforcement Commission.  Ms. Hilliard was also selected to Super Lawyers, 2014; 2015 & 2016 West Virginia Rising Stars in the realm of Family Law.