As a child, Lori’s father often told her the story of the Princess and the Pea, always telling her, at the end, his version of the moral of the story: “If you don’t like the life (bed) you’ve made, get up and make it again!” An adage that has remained with her all her life, especially as both a child of divorce and a divorcee herself, Lori knows what it’s like to go through the process and come out stronger on the other side.

Lori places a great deal of value on the importance of family, which has shaped her strong personality and brought her to where she is today. Lori relocated to Virginia Beach following her own divorce, where she enjoyed the support of her own large extended family as she rebuilt her life in Virginia.

Lori joined the Hofheimer Family Law family after an illustrious career working in firms both large and small (and owning her own local law practice). Lori is unique to our firm in the sense that she has handled cases in a wide array of practice areas – including complex commercial litigation and criminal law, in addition to her vast family law experience. She is also licensed to practice in New Jersey and New York, in addition to Virginia. Her biggest strength? Lori is a seasoned and comfortable litigator, combining preparedness with serious attention to detail!

Lori received her B.A. from Rutgers College, and her law degree from Rutgers University Law School, where she was a New Jersey Bell Scholar at Rutgers College and a Phillip J. Levin Scholar at Rutgers Law School, based upon her academic ability and potential capacity for public service through law.

She began practicing law in 1988 with a unique familiarity with and understanding of the court system, after having served as a judicial legal intern to the Honorable Maryanne Trump Barry, Judge, United States District Court, and as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Murry D. Brochin, Judge, Superior Court of New Jersey. Lori was an associate attorney at the law firms of Greenberg, Dauber & Epstein in Newark, New Jersey, and at Pitney, Hardin, Kipp & Szuch (now Day, Pitney) before relocating to Virginia.

Following the birth of her son, Lori opened her own practice, The Law Office of Lori A. Michaud, P.C., handling civil, criminal defense and family law cases. Lori brings a number of distinct advantages to her practice of law, from working closely with judges, handling complex cases involving extensive litigation, working with firms both large and small, practicing across state lines, and, also, on a personal level, being both a mother and a local business owner. She also has a tough, no nonsense personality, and a frank, levelheaded demeanor that serves her well in a courtroom and during difficult negotiations.

Lori’s son is now grown, living on campus and studying business at Old Dominion University. Now an empty nester, except for her sweet goldendoodle, Yankee Doodle Boy (“Doodles”), Lori is finding time for re-establishing hobbies that she hasn’t had time to enjoy for years. When she’s not killing it in the courtroom, Lori enjoys biking, exploring, and she swims nearly every day.

Though we can’t guarantee results, and every case is different, we’ve had some pretty happy clients over the years!