SearchWe are excited to introduce our first family law cohort at MVLS! Over the next four weeks, we will be welcoming our mentors and mentees from the program. Each week, you will meet a new pairing and learn about their professional careers and what brought them to the cohort. We will update this blog post each Friday with the next set of mentors and mentees we plan to recognize until you have met the entire cohort!
Mentor Sally Gold & Mentee Crystal Collins
At the Law Offices of Sally B. Gold in Baltimore City, Maryland, clients find an attorney with over 40 years of legal experience. Ms. Gold handles premarital agreements, divorce, child custody, child support, alimony, mediation, post-judgment modifications, and other family law matters. In every case, her goal is to pursue the best resolution possible while treating each client as if they were the only client.
Ms. Gold graduated magna cum laude from Goucher College and earned her J.D. with honors from the University of Maryland in 1976. She has been actively involved with the Maryland State Bar Association, the Bar Association of Baltimore City, the Women’s Bar Association, the Women’s Law Center, and the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service (MVLS). A former member of the MVLS Board of Directors, she has also served as a guest lecturer and speaker on family law topics.
Ms. Gold joined MVLS’ Family Law Cohort as a mentor, stating, “Practicing Family Law gives me a chance to model good problem solving with the hope and expectation that my client will learn to do the same.”
Crystal Harris Collins is a 2000 graduate of William and Mary Law School and a licensed attorney in Maryland and the District of Columbia. She received her Bachelor of Arts in History from Hampton University in 1996. Her practice areas include divorce, separation agreements, child support, custody, adoption, wills, and special needs guardianship. Beyond her legal practice, she serves as co-chair of the Baltimore County Local Interagency Coordinating Council, assisting different county agencies with developing systems for children and families.
“I decided to join the Family Law Cohort because I am returning to law practice after an extended break to raise my three children, the youngest of whom has significant autism and developmental delays. This mentorship will help me adjust to new laws and methods of practice in this post-COVID and digital era. I am dedicated to representing persons of lesser financial means and ensuring that everyone has access to legal support.”
Mentor Sheila Stewart & Mentee Patience Moore
Patience Moore shares, “I am interested in becoming part of this cohort because I would like the opportunity to continue learning the practice of family law with the assistance of experienced professionals dedicated to providing newer practitioners with mentorship in this practice area.”
Sheila J. Stewart is Associate Corporate Counsel for Amazon Services LLC, where she provides counsel on marketing, privacy, and compliance issues. She has been an active volunteer with MVLS, previously serving as an Executive Board Member (President) for the Good Hope Estates Civic Association and a member of the MVLS Board of Directors. Additionally, she is involved in the NAACP Parent Council in Montgomery County, MD, and serves as PTSA President at Briggs Chaney Middle School.
Ms. Stewart has accepted 25 MVLS cases since 2018, including expungement and family law matters. In 2021, she was recognized at MVLS’ Celebrate Pro Bono, where Stewart Law & Associates received the Law Firm of the Year award. She remains a dedicated pro bono attorney and now serves as a mentor in the Family Law Cohort.
Week 3: Mentor Thomas Mulinazzi & Mentee Marvin Barnett
Thomas Mulinazzi, a respected family law attorney, serves as President of the Howard County Bar Association (HCBA) and has helped lead initiatives supporting local charities and legal professionals. His firm, Mulinazzi Law Office, has been recognized six times as “Best Family Law Office in Howard County” by Howard Magazine. Mr. Mulinazzi focuses on all aspects of family and domestic law, including high-asset divorce cases, custody disputes, and domestic violence matters. He is also a sought-after mediator and Collaborative Law practitioner.
Marvin Barnett, a contract specialist by day and an emerging legal professional by night, is passionate about family law. He has conducted extensive research, observed virtual proceedings, and developed technological resources to support legal processes. “Joining the family law cohort is a deliberate step to complement my academic and practical experience. I look forward to gaining hands-on insights and refining my approach to effectively serve clients in this evolving area of law.”
Week 4: Mentor Danielle Casson & Mentee Jessica Keister
Danielle Casson, founder of Casson Legal Group, has been practicing family and estate law since 2012. A graduate of Howard University and the University of Baltimore, she is also a certified secondary biology teacher and special educator. Outside of law, she enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family. “Being a wife and mom is my most proud accomplishment,” she shares.
Jessica Keister, Esq., of Family Advocacy Legal Group, LLC, joined the cohort to expand her knowledge of family law and connect with experienced professionals. “I am interested in becoming a member of this cohort to learn more about family law, meet other younger family law attorneys, and to build a relationship and gain more insight/experience from a mentor.”
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