Boyd Collar Nolen & Tuggle

Dawn Smith has represented children and families for over 20 years.  Immediately prior to joining the firm, Ms. Smith was Deputy Director of Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation where she was responsible for administration of the city’s largest Pro Bono family law program.   In this role, Ms. Smith worked in partnership with the Judges of the Fulton County Family Court to provide trained Guardian ad Litems in contested custody matters.  Ms. Smith has trained Guardian ad Litems throughout the state and has lectured on their role nationally.  Ms. Smith is frequently appointed by the Court to serve as Guardian ad Litem in family law cases.

In addition to her expertise in family law, Ms. Smith is recognized as one of the leading advocates for the educational rights of children with disabilities.  She currently serves as Board Chair of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, the national membership organization for special education attorneys and advocates.  She has pursued actions on behalf of children in state and federal trial courts as well as in the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.   Ms. Smith is a frequent lecturer both nationally and locally on the rights of children.  At the firm, Ms. Smith provides quality legal services on behalf of children with disabilities and lends her expertise in this area to all of our family law endeavors.

Ms. Smith is a 1985 graduate of North Carolina State University and a 1989 cum laude gradute of Georgia State University College of Law where she served as Style Editor on Georgia State Law Review.  She served as Law Clerk to United States District Court Judge Marvin H. Shoob and subsequently was appointed Special Administrative Master for the Court.  Dawn was a partner in the firm Zimring & Smith LLC and was later appointed Administrative Law Judge for the Georgia Office of State Administrative Hearings.

Dawn is a 1996 graduate of Leadership Atlanta, Founder of Cool Girls, Inc., served on the Board of the Greater Georgia Chapter of the Autism Society of America and was on the Advisory Board of Emmaus House.   She has also served as Senior Warden and member of the Vestry of  Episcopal Church of the Epiphany and is a current member of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.  Dawn is married to Robin Griffith, has two sons and resides in Atlanta.