An Ohio native, Donna Dougherty was raised in a small town in Ohio and attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and graduated with a degree in Sociology. Donna moved to Washington, DC.  During this period before law school, Donna worked in a legal non-profit and  she also worked in a public company in human resources. 

Then, Donna went to law school and during that time she had the opportunity to clerk for the District of Columbia Public Defender representing clients in both their criminal and family disputes.

After graduating from law school, in 2005, Donna began practicing law in Virginia focusing on civil litigation to include family and real estate litigation. She practiced primarily in Fairfax, Virginia, and during that time Donna fine-tuned her practice and focused on family issues where marriages and/or relationships are dissolving and legal assistance was needed to resolve issues regarding children, support, and/or assets. 

In 2011, Donna opened Donna Dougherty Law, PC in Prince William County with the goal of providing a boutique law firm dedicated to focusing on Family Law where clients are provided personal service and also afforded the strength of a team.  Since 2011, Donna’s firm has grown from only her, to a team of eight (8), four (4) lawyers and four (4) staff.

Additionally, since opening her firm she has become qualified as a Guardian ad Litem where she is court appointed to represent children in custody and abuse and neglect matters, and Donna encourages all the attorneys in her firm to provide these types of services as well to the community.  Donna values this opportunity to step into family law matters where she and her attorneys have the opportunity to represent children. 

Donna resides in Gainesville, Virginia with her husband, two children, two dogs, and two cats.  She enjoys spending time with her family and values how important families – of whatever form – are to each person’s life and happiness.

Areas of Practice

• 80% Family Law
• 10% Guardian ad Litem
• 10% Wills & Trusts

Litigation Percentage

• 10% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Bar Admissions

• Virginia, 2005

Education

• Cleveland State University, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland, Ohio
• J.D.
• Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
• B.A.
• Major: Sociology

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Prince William Bar Association, 2011 to the present
• Family Law Section Co-Chair
• Fairfax Bar Association, 2005 to the present
• Prince William Virginia Women’s Attorney Association, 2006 – Present
• Legislative Co-Chair
• Virginia Trial Lawyer’s Association, 2012 – Present

Awards / Distinctions

• Super Lawyers, Rising Star, 2013, 2014
• Super Lawyer, 2015, 2016, 2017
• Recognized as a Woman of Distinction, 2016
• American Institute, Top Ten, Female Attorney, 2016, 2017