Sarah Novak-Nesbitt | Columbia Divorce & Family Law Lawyer

The Family Legal Advocacy Group’s (FLAG) mission is to provide advocacy and education for our clients in family law, child welfare, and education matters.  

When you meet with a FLAG attorney, we will explore all options with you, including alternative dispute resolution, in an effort to achieve your goals while strengthening your family from the perspective of empowered, goal-oriented decisions.  We will review the positives and negatives of your decision and develop a strategy for moving forward with you serving as an active participant in your future.  Our attorneys have an established history of providing excellent advocacy and have developed a reputation with courts in many jurisdictions throughout Maryland as strong advocates for children and families.  Our attorneys’ experience in representing thousands of children and hundreds of parents, relatives and guardians throughout Maryland in family law, child welfare and education cases shows our commitment to family advocacy as well as the trust imparted upon us by the courts to do that which is in the child’s best interest.  We will help you understand what is best for you and your children and then zealously advocate your position.  

Divorce, custody disputes, child support and alimony are often the most complex legal cases because the attorney will be serving as a litigator, negotiator, mediator, collaborator and counselor.  The first goal for a family law attorney should be to assist a family in resolving their situation in a non-adversarial, child-centered environment that avoids the negative impact on the family unit that is often associated with family law litigation.  However, a qualified family law attorney will also acknowledge  that a resolution outside of court requires both parties to have a willingness to compromise and, therefore, there are situations in which the only avenue to protect a client’s rights is through litigation.

FLAG attorneys are committed to fusing together litigation and alternative dispute resolution into an advocacy process that recognizes the three overarching goals of most families going through a transition.  First, we work to support the well-being of the family as a whole and avoid action that will have a detrimental impact on the children and preserve the family relationships to the greatest possible extent.  Second, we encourage each client to take a pro-active, knowledge-oriented approach to resolving his or her family issues to avoid a complete destruction of the family that can take a lifetime to resolve.  Third, we ensure that our clients’ rights are protected throughout the case and we zealously advocate for our clients.  Through years of experience, we have found that clients who have the assistance of counsel and other supportive professional can focus on their child or children as opposed to the end of the their relationship, and can then make goal-oriented decision to avoid a negative impact on their child’s or children’s well-being. At FLAG, we understand the myriad of emotions that are involved when a relationship ends and parties are faced with the reality of changes that will impact their children and their financial situation.  In re-focusing our clients on their love for their child or children and their child or children’s best interest, we are often able to collaborate with other attorneys to obtain a mutually acceptable resolution without the time, expense, and emotional drain of litigation.  As much as we encourage our clients to pursue resolutions outside of the court system when possible, we understand that there are many situations in which a judge and the court system are needed to reach a resolution.  In such situations, FLAG attorneys are prepared and experienced to effectively advocate for our clients in court.  With years of experience litigating in counties throughout Maryland, we are recognized as attorneys who are goal oriented, effective communicators, prepared and diligent in ensuring the best possible outcome in court, which often results in achieving settlement for our clients before a final hearing.  When a final hearing is needed, we have the family law specific litigation experience that you need to achieve the outcome you desire.   

FLAG also provides representation in education matters. Education is the key to any child’s future.   While prosperity often yields opportunity and poverty signifies struggle, education is the bridge that unites all socio-economic groups provided that proactive, assertive, knowledgeable parents and guardians actively hold their child’s school system, and in particular their individual school, accountable. All of the attorneys at FLAG are former educators with years of experience working with disadvantaged and special education students and thus we combine the knowledge of an educator with the advocacy skills of an attorney.  Education cases do not have to be adversarial.  Often identifying and communicating problems to your child’s special education team will yield positive actions from your child’s school.  Often children receive the most benefit from advocates that ensure compliance with the law rather than spending months preparing for trial after the school system has violated the law.   The safeguards are in place, you must hold all parties accountable.  There are instances where schools are either violating the law and refusing to implement corrective action or continuing to act in a manner that necessitates a due process hearing. In such instances, FLAG attorneys are prepared and experienced in presenting your cases before an administrative law, circuit or federal court Judge.   

What truly sets FLAG apart from other family law practitioners is our lifelong commitment to children and families.  Our attorneys began their professional careers as teachers who were dedicated to educating children and working with families to better our communities.   We transferred our passion to the legal community where we continue to educate our clients, advocate for children and families, and volunteer in organizations that work to strengthen families in our communities.  For our attorneys, family law is not simply our area of practice; child and family advocacy is the pure essence and driving force of who we are as individuals.   
   
Ultimately, we know that every parent wants what is best for his or her children; we will help you achieve this goal.  We have the knowledge and experience to be a strong voice for you, whether it is in the courtroom or by means of settlement.  We will be an empathic listener, available in times of crisis, and provide feedback when questions arise.  We understand that the stakes could not be higher than your child’s well-being; we are the voice you need and the advocacy you deserve.

Position	Organization	Location	Duration
Associate Attorney	Weinberg & Schwartz, LLC	Columbia, Maryland	2009 – 2014

School	Degree	Major	Graduation
University of Maryland School of Law	J.D.	Law School	2009
University of Notre Dame	Bachelor of Arts	Psychology and Sociology	2004

State / Court	Date
Maryland	2009

• Member, Maryland State Bar Association
  Member, Howard County Bar Association
  Member, Howard County Collaborative Practice: Chair of Ethics Committee
  Member, International Academy of Collaborative Professionals
  Board Member, Howard County Chapter of the Maryland Women's Bar Association

• Super Lawyer, Rising Star, 2011, 2012 and 2013
  Pro Bono Student of the Year, Maryland Public Interest Law Project
  Leadership Scholar and Merit Based Scholarship, University of Maryland School of Law

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• Sarah Novak-Nesbitt | Child Welfare Law