Michaela Cotton

Michaela is originally from Virginia Beach, Virginia, and currently calls Charlotte, North Carolina home. She is a proud graduate of William & Mary Law School, and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Virginia.

Before attending law school, Michaela worked as a legal assistant in family law for two years. Her experience working directly with clients inspired her to pursue law, where she discovered her passion for family law. Michaela also served as Senior Articles Editor and Associate Editor for the William & Mary Law School Bill of Rights Journal, where her Note on constitutional law was published. During law school, Michaela gained extensive hands-on experience through multiple internships and clinics:

• 1L Summer: Interned at the Chesapeake City Attorney’s Office in Chesapeake, Virginia.
• 2L Summer: Interned at a family law firm in Chesterfield, Virginia.
• Served as a Research Assistant for two professors, focusing on family law and health law/bioethics.
• Externed at the Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia, which exclusively practices family law.
• Participated in the Low-Income Tax Clinic and Puller Veterans Benefits Clinic, assisting clients with IRS matters and veterans’ disability benefits.

Michaela is drawn to family law because each case is unique, presenting new challenges. She prides herself on helping clients navigate complex and often distressing legal matters, including divorce and child custody cases. Her goal is to be not only a knowledgeable and experienced attorney but also a source of warmth and empathy for her clients.

Family is central to Michaela’s life. Raised by two educator parents who emphasized hard work, creativity, and giving back, Michaela strives to be a lifelong learner and a dedicated advocate. Her father inspires her strong work ethic, her mother instilled creative thinking, and her brother brings laughter and joy. Passionate about community service, Michaela has organized fundraisers for local animal shelters and has volunteered with shelters for nearly 10 years, often taking dogs out for walks and daily adventures. She has also studied French for over six years and studied abroad in Lyon, France, with a goal of learning Spanish in the future.

In her free time, Michaela enjoys running (with the goal of completing a half marathon in every state), playing tennis and pickleball, reading, and spending time with her fiancé and two rescue dogs, Duffy and Louie.