Gracie Wood Shepherd

Gracie Wood Shepherd, a dedicated partner at Friday Milner Lambert Turner, PLLC, in Austin, Texas, is a beacon of support in the realm of family law. Her competence spans a wide array of issues, including divorce, child custody, child custody modifications, enforcement actions, premarital agreements, property division, and family law appeals.

An Austin native, Ms. Shepherd's academic journey began at Texas A&M University, where she earned her undergraduate degree, followed by her law degree cum laude from Baylor Law School. Her passion for family law is driven by a deep commitment to guiding families through challenging times. Her leadership acumen was refined through her involvement in the 2019 Austin Bar/Austin Young Lawyers Association (AYLA) Leadership Academy, serving on the executive committee from 2020 to 2022 and co-chairing the Academy for 2023 and 2024. Her dedication to the legal community is further evidenced by her involvement on the Austin Young Lawyers Association (AYLA) Board of Directors beginning in 2021. Ms. Shepherd is the current Present-Elect of AYLA and will serve as President beginning in July of 2026.

During her time at Baylor Law School, Ms. Shepherd was a trailblazer, serving as president of the Student Bar for three consecutive terms, leading the Public Interest Legal Society and contributing as senior executive editor on Law Review. Her exceptional contributions earned her recognition as one of the National Jurist's Law Students of the Year in 2018. Her undergraduate years at Texas A&M were equally distinguished, marked by her involvement in Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and the Student Government Association. For ten years post-graduation, she served her alma mater as a class agent, fostering connections between her class and the Association of Former Students.

Community service is a cornerstone of Ms. Shepherd's career. She graduated law school with over 500 hours of pro bono work, earning the title of Pro Bono Scholar. During her undergraduate and law school studies, she was a steadfast volunteer as a court appointed special advocate (CASA) across multiple Texas counties, championing the rights of abused and neglected children in foster care. Her commitment extends to regular volunteer work at pro bono family law clinics through Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas, embodying her unwavering dedication to giving back to the community.