Dawn R. Smith is the founding partner of Evolve Family Law, LLC in Atlanta, Georgia, where she has devoted her career exclusively to families for more than 37 years. A recognized leader in her field, Dawn has represented children and families through every stage of the legal process, from complex contested litigation to amicable mediated settlements, with a reputation for zealous advocacy and deep compassion for the clients she serves.
A graduate of North Carolina State University (B.A., Business Management, 1985), Dawn earned her J.D. magna cum laude from Georgia State University College of Law in 1989, where she served as Style Editor of the Georgia State Law Review. She is a graduate of Leadership Atlanta and the founder of Cool Girls, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to empowering at-risk girls in metro Atlanta. She has also served on the Board of the Greater Georgia Chapter of the Autism Society of America and the Advisory Board of Emmaus House.
Dawn began her legal career as a law clerk to United States District Court Judge Marvin H. Shoob and was subsequently appointed Special Administrative Master for the Court. She later served as an Administrative Law Judge for the Georgia Office of State Administrative Hearings, where she presided over a wide range of matters involving children and families. Before founding Evolve Family Law, she served as Deputy Director of the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, overseeing the city's largest pro bono family law program in partnership with the Judges of the Fulton County Superior Court Family Division. She was named Atlanta Legal Aid Volunteer of the Year in 2016.
In her practice, Dawn handles the full spectrum of family law matters, including divorce, child custody and parenting time, high-asset property division, child and spousal support, modifications, legitimation and paternity, domestic violence, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, adoptions, and appeals. In addition to representing clients in litigation, she is frequently appointed by Superior Courts throughout Georgia to serve as Guardian ad Litem and is appointed by the Judges of the Fulton County Superior Court Family Division as a Late Case Evaluator. She is also a certified arbitrator and an active mediator of family law matters.
Dawn is one of only 30 Fellows of the Georgia Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), a distinguished fellowship reserved for the foremost family law practitioners in the country. She served as Co-Chair of the AAML's Racial, Ethnic and Religious Considerations in Family Law Committee, and received the AAML Public Service Award in 2021. She is a member of the Atlanta Bar Association, where she has chaired the Family Law Section and served on the Judicial Selection and Tenure Committee, and is a member of the DeKalb County Bar Association and the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia. Every year since 2018, she has been named to the Super Lawyers® list of Top 50 Women in Georgia and Top 100 Super Lawyers® in Georgia.
Dawn lives in Decatur with her husband Robin and her dog Sunny. She has two adult sons who she continues to co-parent with her ex-spouse. (Yes, adults need parenting sometimes.) Dawn loves to travel to NYC to visit her youngest son who works in theater and to listen to her oldest play saxophone around Atlanta. Dawn loves to garden and sing in her church choir and with Atlanta Singing Resistance.
Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation, “Nuts and Bolts of Being a Guardian ad Litem” October 2023
Georgia Advanced Guardian Ad Litem Training, “Gender Diverse Children and the GAL” September 2023
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers - Association of Family and Conciliatory Courts Advanced Custody Conference, “From Intake to In Court: The High Conflict Custody Case” September 2023
Georgia Bar Family Law Institute, “Cutting Edge Issues of Gender in Custody and Parenting Time” May 2023
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Georgia Chapter “Cutting Edge Custody Issues” December 2022
Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, Annual Meeting “Crafting Parenting Plans that Address the Unique Cultural Dynamics of a Family” November 2022
Georgia Psychological Association “Stay in Your Lane while Expanding Your Practice: Clinical and Ethical Issues When Working with Family Law Attorneys” May 2022
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, New York Chapter “Evidentiary Considerations When Using Mental Health Experts in Child Custody Litigation” May 2022
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Annual Meeting “The Intersection of Mental Health and Custodial Issues” November 2019
Georgia Bar Family Law Institute “Issues Related to Special Needs Children in Custody and Child Support Cases” May 2019
Georgia Bar Family Law Institute “When to Hire Co-Counsel “A Jack of All Trades” Lawyer is Master of None” May 2018
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Georgia Chapter, Program Chair “Trial Skills Seminar” 2017
Georgia Bar Family Law Institute “Support Options and Obligations for Minor and Adult Children with Disabilities” May 2017
Georgia Superior Court Judges Summer Conference & Educational Sessions “Third Party Custody Actions” Winter Conference 2017
Georgia Superior Court Judges Summer Conference & Educational Sessions “Sexual Abuse Allegations and Custody” Winter Conference 2016
Georgia Psychological Association “Ethical and Legal Challenges Working with Families” 2016
Georgia Superior Court Judges Summer Conference & Educational Sessions “Substance Abuse and Custody” July 27-30, 2015
Tropical Seminar “Impact of Cheating and Drinking in Family Law, Does it Really Matter?” February 12-14, 2015
ICLE Special Needs Trust “Special Education Law Basics” 2015
Council of Superior Court Judges 2015 Winter Conference “Special Needs, Special Education in Custody and Support” 2015
Georgia Bar Association, Family Law Institute “Special Needs/Special Education in Custody and Support Cases” 2014
Atlanta Bar Association Pro Bono March Madness – Volunteer Guardians ad Litems 2014
Georgia Bar Association, Family Law Institute “Fertile Ground: Cross Examination and Direct of Custody Evaluators” 2013
Cobb County Bar Association “Ethics and the GAL “ 2013
Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates “New Attorney Training “ 2011-2021
Georgia Bar Association, Family Law Section “Nuts and Bolts of Family Law “ 2012
National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder “Legal Issues for Families “ 2012
Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation , Guardian ad Litem Training –Lecturer – 2007-2022
Georgia Psychological Association – Custody Evaluator Training December 2009
10th Judicial Circuit, Guardian ad Litem Training – Program Chair and Lecturer – 2007
ICLE Georgia – School and College Law “Special Needs Trusts, Due Process Hearings, Administrative Law” 2004-2005
Marcus Institute “Update on IDEA” 2005
Lorman Education Services “Asperger’s Syndrome, Family Education Rights and Privacy” 2003, 2005
Fulton County Juvenile Court –“Discipline and Special Needs” 2001
Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates “ADHD, Compensatory Servicers, Transition” 2003, 2005, 2008
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