Meet Donna

With 34 years of family law experience, Donna E. Van Scoy is known as a caring and strong advocate for her clients, who is with them every step of the way. 

Her clients often remark that Donna listens to them and their concerns. She offers practical advice and works tirelessly to help them achieve the best possible outcome.

Donna has experience working with clients from all walks of life and understands the importance of providing each client with individual attention and guidance. 

Her goal is to provide her clients with the support education they need to navigate the most challenging times of their lives. She understands that every situation is unique, and she is deeply committed to helping her clients move forward during their major life event by advocating for them.

Donna is dedicated to helping families during difficult times. Her experience as a respected attorney, litigator, mediator, child attorney, and parent coordinator enable Donna to provide her client with real life examples of possible outcomes in their case. Her ability to represent them in all those areas and collaborative law provides her with the skills to offer her clients a wide range of options for resolving their family issues.

Early in her career Donna understood the importance for her clients that she was active in the legal profession. She chose to become involved in bar associations and legal issues. 

She is passionate about the selection of judges, the mentoring of other attorneys, and giving time to the legal community to help ensure the continued success of the profession. She assumes leadership roles, seeks advice from other leaders, and is proud of her profession and career of helping others. 

Donna has served as President of local and state bars, she has sat on the Trial Courts Judicial Nominating Commission, and she has been a presenter at seminars and conferences. 

In addition to that and other roles, Donna has been honored by the Daily Record and Washingtonian for her service to the profession.

Outside of work, Donna enjoys photography, traveling, walks and reading. She loves spending time with her family and socializing with friends at gatherings, meals, and parties. Donna is married and has two adult children.

Credentials

Education

  • J.D., University of Baltimore, School of Law (1988)
  • B.A., University of Maryland, Government and Politics (1984)

Bar Admissions

  • Maryland (1989)

Awards

  • Washingtonian Top Lawyers Hall of Fame (2022)
  • Daily Record’s Top 100 Women (2021, 2013)
  • Bar Association of Montgomery County 31st Annual Professionalism Award (2020)
  • Montgomery County Bar Foundation, Honorary Life Bar Leader (2019)
  • Daily Record Leadership in Law Award (2015)
  • Montgomery County Women’s Bar Association Leaders & Legends Award (2014)
  • Included in Washingtonian Magazine, Bethesda Magazine, “The Best Lawyers In America”, and “Super Lawyers” (including Top 100 Attorneys and Top 50 Women Attorneys) for Family Law
  • ‘AV’ Rated, Martindale-Hubbell both by Judiciary and Bar

Community involvement

  • President, Montgomery County Women’s Bar Foundation (Current)
  • Workgroup to Study Judicial Selection (Current)
  • Racial Justice Council (Current)
  • Montgomery County Inns of Court (Current)
  • Montgomery County Bar Association, Family Law Section (Current)
  • Family Justice Center, Board Member (Current)
  • Montgomery County Trial Courts Judicial Nominating Commission (2002-2014)
  • President, Women’s Bar Association of Maryland, Inc. 
  • President, Montgomery County Women’s Bar Association 
  • Co-Chair, Collaborative Divorce Association, Inc. 
  • Montgomery County Bar Foundation 
  • Sub-Committee Member of Custody Commission 
  • Board of Governors, Maryland State Bar Association 
  • Treasurer, Former Member, Montgomery County Bar Association, Executive Committee 
  • Montgomery County Divorce Roundtable 
  • Bar Leader, Montgomery County Bar Foundation 
  • Fellow, Maryland State Bar Association 
  • Fellow, American Bar Association 

Publications, Interviews & Lectures

  • Lecturer on Family Law topics
  • J.D., University of Baltimore, School of Law (1988)
  • B.A., University of Maryland, Government and Politics (1984)
  • Maryland (1989)
  • Washingtonian Top Lawyers Hall of Fame (2022)
  • Daily Record’s Top 100 Women (2021, 2013)
  • Bar Association of Montgomery County 31st Annual Professionalism Award (2020)
  • Montgomery County Bar Foundation, Honorary Life Bar Leader (2019)
  • Daily Record Leadership in Law Award (2015)
  • Montgomery County Women’s Bar Association Leaders & Legends Award (2014)
  • Included in Washingtonian Magazine, Bethesda Magazine, “The Best Lawyers In America”, and “Super Lawyers” (including Top 100 Attorneys and Top 50 Women Attorneys) for Family Law
  • ‘AV’ Rated, Martindale-Hubbell both by Judiciary and Bar
  • President, Montgomery County Women’s Bar Foundation (Current)
  • Workgroup to Study Judicial Selection (Current)
  • Racial Justice Council (Current)
  • Montgomery County Inns of Court (Current)
  • Montgomery County Bar Association, Family Law Section (Current)
  • Family Justice Center, Board Member (Current)
  • Montgomery County Trial Courts Judicial Nominating Commission (2002-2014)
  • President, Women’s Bar Association of Maryland, Inc. 
  • President, Montgomery County Women’s Bar Association 
  • Co-Chair, Collaborative Divorce Association, Inc. 
  • Montgomery County Bar Foundation 
  • Sub-Committee Member of Custody Commission 
  • Board of Governors, Maryland State Bar Association 
  • Treasurer, Former Member, Montgomery County Bar Association, Executive Committee 
  • Montgomery County Divorce Roundtable 
  • Bar Leader, Montgomery County Bar Foundation 
  • Fellow, Maryland State Bar Association 
  • Fellow, American Bar Association 
  • Lecturer on Family Law topics