Madison D. Gilbert
Attorney
704.442.00
“My mother told me to be a lady. And for her, that meant be your own person, be independent.” Ruth Bader Ginsburg
On the eve of Hurricane Floyd, my mother rushed to the hospital to give birth, but not before stopping at the office to finalize a few documents for filing on Monday. She never attended law school, but she clerked for a local judge while she was pregnant with me. My great aunt never attended law school either, but she also did administrative work for an attorney. They both worked in the legal field when woman were entering the legal field in high numbers but remained hidden behind the glass ceiling.
My experience in the legal field has been different. In fact, my graduating class in law school was comprised of more women than men. I’ve been taught by just as many female professors as I have male professors. I’ve worked for numerous women in the legal field, including the youngest woman to ever serve on our state supreme court. And, now, I’m starting my legal career at a law firm founded and run by a woman.
My mother never sat me down and told me I should be a lawyer. Rather, she told me I could be anything. The one thing I knew for certain about my dreams and aspirations. I wanted to be part of a support system, just like the women in my family always had been.
In college, I came to a crossroads. I knew I was passionate about helping people and that I could accomplish that goal as a social worker. I also knew that, for many people, the real obstacles they faced were due to pressing legal issues – technicalities you must resolve first before moving forward and creating a new normal.
*Licensure is pending
EDUCATION
- University of North Caroline at Chapel Hill
- Elon University School of Law
BAR ADMISSION
- North Carolina (license pending)
AREAS OF PRACTICE
- Family Law
- Premarital Agreements
- Post-nuptial Agreements
- Separation Agreements
- Divorce
- Equitable Distribution
- Alimony
- Post-Separation Support
- Child Support
- Child Custody