About Barbara Dawes

Prior to joining the firm in October 1987, Barbara Confer Dawes worked as a law clerk for the Honorable Charles F. Filice, District Judge, City of Lansing. This experience offered her valuable insight into the handling and representation of District Court matters, which has been beneficial to her private practice.

For over 35 years, Barbara has concentrated her practice in the area of family law, including mediation in family law matters. Barbara completed the Family Law Certificate Program offered by the Michigan Institute of Continuing Legal Education and the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan. The program requires not only completion of an extensive selection of courses and seminars in family law, but requires certificate recipients to take additional courses annually to maintain certification.

Barbara is also a court-approved mediator for domestic relations matters. Since completing the forty-hour ICLE training, Barbara has successfully mediated several cases in Genesee and Shiawassee Counties. Barbara continues to take the required bi-annual training to maintain her status as a court-appointed mediator.

Barbara is respected among local family law attorneys for her knowledge of Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs), which are orders for the division of retirement benefits in divorce matters. QDROs are very complex, and Barbara is frequently asked by other family law attorneys to prepare or review QDROs for their cases.

Barbara is very active in the Genesee County and Shiawassee County legal community.