Michelle C. Thomas

Bar / Professional Activity

• HEARING COMMITTEE, D.C. BAR BOARD OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY (2016-2019) (appointed)  Michelle Thomas serves as an alternate hearing committee member to hear attorney disciplinary matters., 2022
• D.C. BAR BOARD OF GOVERNORS (Elected-Contested)--Michelle C. Thomas was elected to serve on the Board of Governors in 2013 for three years.  The Board of Governors oversees a membership of over 100,000 lawyers admitted to the D.C. Bar. During Michelle's tenure, she has served on the Audit Committee, Finance Committee, and as Section Liaison to three sections., 2016
• CHAIR, SMALL FIRMS' TASKFORCE, National Bar Association - Organize Member Benefits, programs and small business initiatives for members nationalwide, 2014
• BOARD OF GOVERNORS, National Bar Association, 2013
• CHAIR, PRACTICE MANAGEMENT SERVICE COMMITTEE, DC BAR (Appointed by Board of Governors) - Chaired mandatory state bar's practice management service committee, serving a resource for small firm lawyers within the Bar, and helping to develop innovative practice management programs to support members of the bar., 2012
• APPOINTMENT TO D.C. BAR NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE, D.C. BAR (Appointed by Board of Governors).  , 2011
• BOARD MEMBER, BLACK LAW ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL, 2010
• PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CHAIR, YOUNG LAWYERS' DIVISION, NATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION, 2010
• BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WOMEN'S BAR ASSOCIATION OF D.C. FOUNDATION (Appointed).  Instrumental in increasing grant awards to $70K from approx. $10K-20K in grants in preceding years; Organized first "super-grant" and grantee award ceremony during tenure.  Served as Secretary 2009-2010., 2008
• PRESIDENT, GREATER WASHINGTON AREA CHAPTER, WOMEN LAWYERS' DIVISION, NATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION.  Received President's Award and named Outstanding Affiliate Chapter of the Year from national organization.  , 2007
• BOARD MEMBER, YOUNG LAWYERS' DIVISION, WASHINGTON BAR ASSOCIATION, 2004

Videos

• Michelle C. Thomas provides comments on Bill Cosby decision on the BBC World News., BBC World News: Bill Cosby Verdict, 2021
• Michelle C. Thomas appears on Dr. Sue and You providing insight on families navigating divorce during the pandemic., Dr. Sue and You: Divorce Overview, 2021
• Michelle C. Thomas appears on The Table with Anthony O'Neal to discuss the ins and outs of prenuptial agreements.  , The Table with Anthony O'Neal: Who Needs Prenups?, 2021
• Michelle C. Thomas appears on BNC (Black News Channel) to discuss the impact of the pandemic on divorce and offers tips to navigate it successfully., The Impact of Pandemic on Divorce, 2020
• Michelle C. Thomas appeared on WHUR 96.3 / SiriusXM’s The Daily Drum with Harold T. Fisher to discuss PRENUPS (and why you could need one!☝, Expert Guest, The Daily Drum with Harold Fisher, WHUR/Sirius XM 141, General Public, 2019
• EXPERT RADIO GUEST ON WHUR'S THE DAILY DRUM (2018) --Attorney Michelle Thomas appeared as an Expert Guest on WHUR 96.3 FM's The Daily Drum with Harold Fisher on the show entitled, "Divorce Mistakes."  Attorney Thomas provided insight on the worst divorce mistakes people make and how to avoid them, and answered callers' questions live., Expert Guest, "Divorce Mistakes" Show, 2018
• EXPERT RADIO SHOW GUEST, AFFAIRS OF THE HEART: BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO, LAW TALK WITH ETHEL MITCHELL, WOL 1450 AM, Affairs of the Heart--Breaking Up is Hard to Do, 2014
• EXPERT RADIO SHOW GUEST, PRENUPS AND DIVORCE, LAW TALK WITH ETHEL MITCHELL, WOL 1450 AM/Radio One, Prenups and Divorce, 2014
• EXPERT RADIO GUEST ON ROLAND MARTIN'S NEWS ONE NOW. Michelle C. Thomas, discussed prenups, divorce and other issues related to the formation and dissolution of families on Roland Martin's radio show., News One Now with Roland Martin, Radio -- Divorce
• EXPERT RADIO SHOW GUEST, COMMON LAW MARRIAGE, LAW TALK WITH ETHEL MITCHELL, WOL 1450 AM/Radio One, Common Law Marriage

Special Licenses / Certifications

• APPOINTMENT TO PRACTICE MANAGEMENT SERVICE COMMITTEE, DC BAR (Appointed by Board of Governors), 2008
• Certified Collaborative Lawyer

Pro bono / Community Service

• Featured Speaker, Montgomery County, Maryland Commission for Women For the second consecutive year, Michelle served as the featured speaker for the Montgomery County, Maryland Commission for Women's Divorce Speaker Series on the divorce process from beginning to end.  Michelle discussed how to prepare, alternatives to litigation, filing for divorce, the division of property, child custody and support considerations, and how best to prepare for the journey.  Michelle's presentation was well-received based on the 5-star surveys submitted at the end., 2020
• SPEAKER, LAW DAY 2018 (Glenn Dale, Md).  Attorney Michelle Thomas chaired Law Day 2018 which offered several FREE legal seminars and one-on-one informational sessions with seasoned attorneys to more than 200 attendees, all free of charge.  Michelle Thomas presented the Family Law seminar and answered questions on-one-one thereafter. , 2018
• SPEAKER, LAW DAY 2017 (Glenn Dale, Md).  Attorney Michelle Thomas chaired Law Day 2017 which offered several FREE legal seminars and one-on-one informational sessions with seasoned attorneys to more than 200 attendees, all free of charge.  Michelle Thomas presented the Family Law seminar and answered questions on-one-one thereafter. , 2017
• CHAIR, LAW MINISTRY, REID TEMPLE AME CHURCH.  Plan Annual Law Day and other pro bono programs., 2012

Honors

• Recognized as a 2019 SuperLawyer for Family Law in Washington, DC.  This prestigious recognition is awarded to no more than 5% of all lawyers in each state based upon a peer nomination and rigorous research process., Super Lawyer, Family Law (Washington, D.C.), Super Lawyers, 2019
• Michelle has been named a 2019 Top Divorce Lawyer by Bethesda Magazine, an honor bestowed upon select attorneys after thorough market research and peer surveys., Top Divorce Lawyer, Bethesda Magazine, 2019
• Michelle C. Thomas received the Trailblazer Award from the women’s bar association, GWAC! This award was given to Michelle for leading with excellence in the legal community, and blazing trails for young women lawyers and aspiring attorneys., Trailblazer Award, Greater Washington Area Chapter, Women Lawyers' Division, NBA, 2018
• SELECTED TOP 10 FAMILY LAWYER BY AMERICAN JURIST INSTITUTE, American Jurist Institute, 2018
• 2015 - 2017 TOP 100 - NATIONAL BLACK LAWYERS The Top 100 is an invitation-only professional honorary organization composed of the Top 100 Black Lawyers or Non-Black Attorneys who serve individuals, families and businesses.  Members of The National Black Lawyers - Top 100 exemplify superior qualifications of leadership, reputation, influence and performance in their area of legal practice., Top 100 Lawyers, The National Black Lawyers, 2017
• NAMED A 10 BEST FAMILY LAWYER FOR CLIENT SATISFACTION BY AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF FAMILY LAW ATTORNEYS, 10 Best Family Lawyer, 2015
• NATION'S TOP 40 UNDER 40 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The National Bar Association (NBA) is honoring Trial Attorney Michelle C. Thomas as one of the "Top 40 Under 40" at its 89th Annual meeting of the National Bar Association in Atlanta, GA on July 26, 2014.  For the last four years the NBA has hosted a gala celebration to honor the rising star attorneys under the age of 40. This award honors legal trailblazers who have achieved prominence and distinction in their fields of endeavor -- be it the practice of law, academia, business, civic and charitable affairs, the judiciary, or politics -- and who have demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing the goals and mission of the NBA., Nation's Top 40 Under 40, National Bar Association, 2014
• DIVISION OF THE YEAR-- Under Michelle's leadership and term as President, the Young Lawyers' Division was named the "Division of the Year" by the National Bar Association, the Bar's highest honor given to its one of its national divisions each year.  Under Michelle's leadership, the Division raised approximately $40,000, increased membership by 55%, and influenced the lives of young lawyers and the underprivileged in an unparalleled way., Division of the Year, National Bar Association, 2013
• NATIONAL AFFILIATE CHAPTER OF THE YEAR AWARD-- Under Michelle's leadership as President of the Greater Washington Area Chapter, Women Lawyers' Division of the National Bar Association, GWAC was named the NBA's Affiliate of the Year for its outstanding service to the bar and community., 2008
• MERITORIOUS AWARD-- Michelle received the Meritorious Award from the Young Lawyers' Division of the National Bar Association for her outstanding contributions to the Division, including the development of innovative CLE programs, lectures and professional development opportunities for members.
• YOUNG LAWYER OF THE YEARMichelle C. Thomas is being honored for her unyielding service and leadership in the community, and commitment to excellence in the law during its Annual Awards Gala at the JW Marriott. The evening includes a cocktail reception, dinner, dessert, dancing, and an award ceremony honoring BADC's Judicial Honoree of the Year, Lawyer of the Year, Honorable Annice M. Wagner Pioneer Award Winner, and Young Lawyer of the Year.  The Gala attracts hundreds of members of the bench, bar and legal community to celebrate the BADC's four honorees, including Ms. Thomas., Young Lawyer of the Year, Bar Association of the District of Columbia, 2007
• PRESIDENT'S AWARD--Michelle received the President's Award from President Vanita Banks of the National Bar Association for her outstanding service to the Bar, including her organization of civic and community outreach events and fundraising, and strong leadership of the D.C. Chapter of the Women Lawyers' Division of the Bar., PRESIDENT'S AWARD, National Bar Association

Educational Background

• BA, North Carolina at Chapel Hill JD, The George Washington University Law School

Scholarly Lectures / Writings

• Michelle C. Thomas was invited to speak at the American Bar Association Family Law Fall Conference in Tucson, Arizona. In her lecture entitled, "Show Me the Money," Michelle addressed colleagues from across the country on the legal complexities of imputing income in alimony and child support cases.  Due to positive reviews, Michelle was asked to present the seminar a second time as a webinar for the ABA., Speaker, ABA Fall Family Law Conference, Show Me the Money: How to Convince the Court to Impute Income in Alimony and Child Support Cases, American Bar Association, Divorce, Family Law, Alimony, Child Support, 2018
• SPEAKER, AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION SECTION OF FAMILY 2018 LAW FALL CONFERENCE (Tuscon, Arizona)-- Attorney Michelle Thomas was honored to be invited as a guest speaker at the American Bar Association, Section of Family Law Fall Conference in Tuscon, Arizona in October, 2018.  As the only attorney panelist, Attorney Thomas lectured on the fundamentals, leading case law and legal strategies related to the imputation of income in alimony and child support cases, along with a vocational expert. , Presenter, Speaker, American Bar Association, Section Of Family Law, 2018
• PRESENTER, NATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION CLE-- Presented on legal issues affecting families for CLE credit., Presenter, Same-sex Families and the Law, 2013
• PRESENTER--Courtroom trial skills, oral advocacy and persuasion for CLE Credit., PRESENTER, Oral Advocacy Workshop, 2012
• GUEST PROFESSORIAL LECTURE, THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL., Guest Professorial Lecture, Drafting of Legal Contracts
• MODERATOR, MEDIA & THE LAW: HOW TO MASTER THE MEDIA AND WIN YOUR CASE, NATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION.  , 2013
• PANELIST, The Business of Law, D.C. Bar, 2011

• Alimony
• Asset Protection/Distribution
• Custody