Attorney, JD

Deana is a Board Certified Specialist in Child Welfare Law. She specializes in juvenile law, social services law, adoption, and related appeals. She first became involved with the juvenile court system in law school as a volunteer guardian ad litem and family court intern in Durham. After graduating law school, she entered private practice in family law, but quickly realized her passion was juvenile law. As an assistant public defender in Durham, she represented parents in abuse, neglect, dependency and termination of parental rights proceedings and criminal defendants. She worked thirteen years for the Administrative Office of the Courts, twelve years serving as Associate Counsel for the North Carolina Guardian ad Litem Program, and one year as Assistant General Counsel focusing primarily on child welfare and juvenile delinquency law.

Deana received her bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the UNC-Chapel Hill, and her law degree from NCCU School of Law. She is a member of the North Carolina Bar Association Juvenile Justice Children’s Rights Section and serves as legislative chair. She was the first recipient of the section’s annual Children’s Champion Award. She has extensive appellate experience in juvenile cases, including Amicus Curiae, and has argued four times at the North Carolina Supreme Court. She has presented at numerous legal education conferences on child welfare issues. She has been involved in several legislative drafting committees to improve the practice of juvenile law, including legislation that raised the age of juvenile court jurisdiction to age eighteen.

Deana lives in Durham with her husband and two sons. She enjoys yoga, hiking with her dog, archery, and watching her sons play outside. She hopes to have the opportunity to travel more with her family.