Mary G. Commander
Attorney & Certified Mediator
MARY G. COMMANDER has been engaged in the practice of law in Norfolk, Virginia and surrounding areas since 1981. She is well-known and respected in the Hampton Roads area for her proficiency in all matters of Family Law and her diligent and no-nonsense approach in court. Ms. Commander is a certified Norfolk Master Gardener Volunteer and actively involved in the rescue of former racing greyhounds (with two of her own at home).
Mary Commander’s Education & Experience:
She is a magna cum laude graduate of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, where she served for three years as an elected member of the University Senate. In 1981, she graduated with honors from University of Richmond School of Law in Richmond, Virginia. During law school, she was a member of the Law Review Staff (chosen based on grades and a writing competition), Moot Court Board (chosen based on brief writing and oral argument competition) and McNeill Law Society (honorary academic society). She also had articles selected for publication in the University of Richmond Law Review.
Following graduation, Ms. Commander served a one year judicial clerkship (1981-82) with The Honorable John A. MacKenzie, Chief Judge, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, Norfolk, Virginia.
For 18 years, Ms Commander served as an Administrative Hearing Officer for the State of Virginia in addition to her regular practice. She conducted hearings and decided cases involving employee grievances and terminations.
For 7 years, Ms. Commander served as a substitute judge sitting in Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Courts and General District Courts throughout the Hampton Roads area on a regular basis.
- University of Richmond School of Law
- J.D.
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- Honors: Law Review; Moot Court Board; McNeil Law Society
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- Old Dominion University
- B.A. (1977)
- Honors: Magna Cum Laude
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- Managing Partner
- Commander Law, Attorneys And Mediators
- Current
- Firm concentrating on Family Law and Mediation.
- “Adoption Procedures and Forms For Virginia Lawyers”
- Virginia CLE
- “Annual Review of the Law-Workers’ Compensation”
- University of Richmond Law Review
- “Legal Ethics in Mediation”
- Virginia Family Law Quarterly
- “Minimum Competency Testing”
- University of Richmond Law Review
- Certified Circuit Court and J&DR Court Family Mediator
- Virginia Supreme Court
- Certified Guardian Ad Litem
- Virginia Supreme Court
- Top 100 Lawyers of 2017 in Virginia
- Superlawyers
- Family Law Section, Volunteer of the Year Award
- Virginia State Bar
- Finalist
- National Association of Women Business Owners, Southeastern Virginia
- Virginia Lawyers’ Weekly Leaders in the Law Selection
- Virginia Lawyers Weekly
- Jefferson Awards, Regional Winner
- American Institute for Public Service
- American Bar Association
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- • Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (Family Law Section)
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- • Virginia Women Attorney’s Association (Past President, Tidewater Chapter)
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- Norfolk Portsmouth Bar Association
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- Virginia Mediation Network
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- Virginia Collaborative Professionals
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- Collaborative Divorce Solutions of Tidewater
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- International Academy of Collaborative Professionals
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- Academy of Professional Family Mediators
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- James Kent, American Inns of Court
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- Life Member, Friends of the Old Dominion University Library
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- Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Association
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- Delta Theta Phi
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- Virginia
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- Credit Cards Accepted
- Arbitration & Mediation
- Business Arbitration, Consumer Arbitration, Family Arbitration
- Divorce
- Collaborative Law, Contested Divorce, Military Divorce, Property Division, Same Sex Divorce, Spousal Support & Alimony, Uncontested Divorce
- Family Law
- Adoption, Child Custody, Child Support, Father's Rights, Guardianship & Conservatorship, Paternity, Prenups & Marital Agreements, Restraining Orders, Same Sex Family Law
- Juvenile Law
- Website
- Website