Family Law Section Meeting & Case Law UpdateFamily Law Section Meeting & CLE

Ebony R. Hammond is an Associate Attorney with JSDC Law Offices. Her practice focuses on representing individuals in family law matters, including divorce, child custody disputes, Protection from Abuse (“PFA”) matters as well as criminal law matters. Ebony strives to support clients to ensure each client’s unique needs will be effectively addressed throughout the life of their case. Attorney Hammond is trained and certified in Collaborative Law, a method of alternative dispute resolution in divorce matters.

Attorney Hammond completed her undergraduate studies at Duquense University, graduating cum laude, earning her bachelor’s degree in Psychology in 2018. She earned her Juris Doctor from Widener University Commonwealth Law School in 2021.

While at Widener University Commonwealth Law School, she was an Academic Success Fellow in Torts, Vice President of the Student Bar Association, President of the Latin American Law Student Association and President of the Women’s Law Caucus. Also in law school, Attorney Hammond served as a Pupil member of the William W. Lipsitt Inn of Court.

Attorney Hammond is currently a member of the Dauphin County Bar Association, Dauphin County Young Lawyers Division, William W. Lipsitt Inn of Court and Pennsylvania Bar Association Family Law Section. She is also the secretary of the DCBA Family Law Section, member of the DCBA Family Law Advisory Committee, and co-chair of the Collaborative Professionals of Central Pennsylvania (CPCP). Attorney Hammond has been appointed by Dauphin County to serve as conflict counsel for juveniles in dependency matters. She has also been appointed to serve as Guardian Ad Litem in Children and Youth dependency matters. Within the local community, Attorney Hammond is also serving as a board member of The Mix based in Lancaster.

Education: Duquesne University (B.A., 2018) | Widener Law Commonwealth Law School (J.D., 2021)

In her family law practice, Casey Johnson-Welsh draws on her unique career background to guide families through some of the most difficult times of their lives. Prior to becoming a lawyer, Casey spent five years as a caseworker with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, Office of Children, Youth, and Families. That experience inspired her to pursue family law so she could help divorcing couples keep the best interests of their children as a priority and remain in their children’s lives. As a family lawyer Casey also helps start families by assisting clients through the adoption process.

Casey understands that any family law matter involves a range of emotions that can change frequently throughout the process. She utilizes her background in psychology and social work to be a patient and empathic listener, working together with clients to achieve the best possible results. Casey strives to reach mutually beneficial outcomes, but when that is not possible she is prepared to vigorously advocate for her clients in court. With every matter Casey’s goal is to attain results that allow clients to move forward with their lives while protecting the things that are most important.

A graduate of Messiah College with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology, Magna Cum Laude, Casey received her law degree from Widener University School of Law, Cum Laude. Casey resides in the Harrisburg area with her husband and their sons. They enjoy attending sporting events, hiking, and traveling.

PRACTICE AREAS: Family Law

Elizabeth A. Close, Esq. brings over ten years of legal experience to the firm and focuses her practice in the areas of family law and criminal defense.

Attorney Close began her legal career as a court clerk and judicial assistant to the Honorable Deborah E. Curcillo, Court of Common Pleas, Dauphin County. Upon obtaining her law license in November 2016, she served as an Assistant Public Defender in the Dauphin County Public Defender’s Office for several years where she defended clients against a broad range of crimes, from minor offenses to misdemeanor and serious felony offenses.

Ms. Close also served as an Assistant District Attorney in Lebanon County in 2020-2021, where she secured a 100% conviction rate at trial. Her experience practicing on both the prosecution and defense sides of the law brings an invaluable perspective to her current criminal defense practice, allowing her to skillfully analyze the merits of each case and create a strategy to obtain the most favorable results for her clients.

Upon Ms. Close’s transition to private practice in 2021, she expanded her practice to include family law and has represented clients in divorce, support, child custody, PFA (Protection From Abuse), and child dependency cases. As a family law attorney, Ms. Close is a vigorous advocate for her clients yet is empathetic to the emotionally charged nature of family law proceedings. Her background in psychology greatly enhances her family law practice, as it gives her insight and knowledge that extend beyond those of the average practitioner, allowing for a deeper understanding of, and compassion for, the unique dynamics and issues that frequently arise in family law cases.

Ms. Close is affiliated with the following professional associations: Pennsylvania Bar Association, Family Law Section member | Dauphin County Bar Association, Family Law Section member | Cumberland County Bar Association | Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Marisa McClellan is the Administrator for Dauphin County Social Services for Children and Youth. Prior to her current position, she was the Lead Solicitor for Dauphin County Social Services for Children and Youth. She was also formerly in private practice representing parents and children in dependency, adoption and family law cases. She was the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Child Advocate of the Year for 2017. She is a current board member of the Pennsylvania Children and Youth Administrators Association. She is a current member of the State Roundtable of Pennsylvania, is the co-chair of the Leader’s Roundtable of Pennsylvania, and the Dauphin County Roundtable. She is the current co-chair of the Children’s Rights Committee, of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. She is a member of the Dauphin County Bar Association, Cumberland County Bar Association, and the Pennsylvania Bar Association. She is also a member of the Pennsylvania Child Welfare Council. She is currently a member of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Juvenile Rules Committee. She is a former chair of the Pennsylvania Children and Youth Solicitor’s Association. She regularly participates in State-wide workgroups on new juvenile legislation and implementation. She has written on dependency and termination practices in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In 2017 she was published in the Pennsylvania Bar Association Quarterly. She earned her B.A. from Pennsylvania State University and her J.D. from the Dickinson School of Law, Pennsylvania State University