Mary Sue Ramsden, Attorney

Mary Sue Ramsden received a Bachelor of Science Degree, Magna Cum Laude, from the University of Pittsburgh in 1976 and obtained a Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1979.  She is admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Attorney Ramsden was President of the Matrimonial Chapter of the American Inns of Court from 1995-1997 and is currently a Master Emeritus.  The mission of the Inns of Court is to promote legal excellence, civility, ethics and professionalism.

Ms. Ramsden is a Charter Fellow of the Allegheny County Bar Foundation.  Attorney Ramsden has served on the Board of Governors of the Allegheny County Bar Association (ACBA) since 2004.  She also served on the ACBA Judiciary Committee, which interviews, evaluates and rates judicial candidates, from 2001 to 2004.

Ms. Ramsden is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and is a member of the PBA Family Law Section.   Attorney Ramsden serves as a delegate in the House of Delegates for the Pennsylvania Bar Association.   She is a member of the executive committee of the PBA Commission on Women, serving as Co-chair of the Promotion of Women Committee.

Attorney Ramsden is a past President of the Women's Bar Association of Western Pennsylvania (WBA).  She also served as Secretary and Co-Chair of Special Events for the WBA.

Attorney Ramsden received the prestigious Tribute to Women Award  for Leadership in the Professions given by the YMCA in 1998.   She was also one of the Nominees for Woman of the Year in Law and Government by Vectors of Pittsburgh in 1999.

In 2003, the Woman's Bar Association of Western Pennsylvania selected Ms. Ramsden as the recipient of the Susan B. Anthony Award.  The award is given annually to an individual who demonstrates dedication to encouraging and promoting women in the law, while working to promote and maintain the highest standards for the legal profession, the judiciary and the court systems of western Pennsylvania.

Ms. Ramsden was selected by her peers across the state to be named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer.   Philadelphia Magazine reports that only 5% of Pennsylvania lawyers receive this distinction, one that Ms. Ramsden has repeatedly received every year since 2005.   She has also been selected by her peers across the state for inclusion in Woodward and White's Best Lawyers in America. 

Attorney Ramsden is Chair of the Family Law Section of the Allegheny County Bar Association (ACBA), where she has served in many capacities.  She previously served as secretary, treasurer and Vice Chair of the ACBA Family Law Section and as a member of the Family Law Council.  

Ms. Ramsden is Co-Chair of the Court Relations Committee of the Family Law Section of the Bar.    She served for many years as Co-Chair of the Children's Issues Roundtable, a group of lawyers, judges, psychologists and mental health professionals who meet monthly to discuss issues relating to children in the courts.   Ms. Ramsden is also the former Co-Chair of the Mentor Committee of the Family Law Section of the ACBA where she developed videotaped trial tactics training seminars for young lawyers to learn about family law practice from experienced mentors.

Attorney Ramsden has served on numerous ACBA and PBA committees including the Support Guidelines Sub-Committee, the Custody Mediation Sub-Committee, Women in the Law Committee, the Juvenile Law Committee, the Professionalism Committee, and the Real Estate and Probate Section, and the Fee Dispute Committee.  She currently serves on the Military and Veterans Affairs Committee and has participated in providing pro bono advice to veterans and their families in the ACBA Military and Veterans Legal Advice Day. 

Attorney Ramsden was appointed by former President Judge Dauer to serve on the Board of Managers of the Shuman Center juvenile detention facility.  Her past employment includes several years as a Child Advocate, with the Child Advocacy Legal Aid Society, where she represented abused and neglected children.  Attorney Ramsden was also appointed by the President of the PBA to serve on the Pennsylvania Task Force on Child Abuse & Neglect, a joint venture of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Pennsylvania Medical Society.

Ms. Ramsden served on the Board of Directors of PAAR (Pittsburgh Action Against Rape) for many years.  She has also served on the Advisory Board of the Women's Center & Shelter Children's Pro Bono Mental Health Project.  She also remains active in community professional and social organizations, such as the Amen Corner, a prestigious organization of Pittsburgh tradition since 1870, where she serves on the Board of Directors. 

Attorney Ramsden donates extensive time to pro bono activities, including representing victims of domestic violence in Protection From Abuse proceedings before the court, providing legal advice to pro se litigants through the court Pro Bono Project, participating in the ACBA KDKA You and the Law Day, acting as judge at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law Moot Court, participating in the Attorneys Against Hunger Project as well as the Legal Services pro bono Family Law legal clinic, and other legal and community service activities. 

In 2006, Raphael Ramsden and Behers, P.C. received the Pro Bono Service Award from the Allegheny County Bar Foundation for its commitment to pro bono service.

Ms. Ramsden is a frequent lecturer in Continuing Legal Education Programs where she teaches lawyers in the field of family law, including advanced issues in Divorce and Custody as well as Jurisdictional and Military Issues. She has appeared on both radio and television regarding Family Law Issues.

Attorney Ramsden is a Trained Mediator having completed training in the Mediation of Business, Family and Divorce Conflicts from the Mediation and Conflict Management Services of St. Louis.