Child Welfare Consulting Firm
Top Legal Analyst, Consultant, Juvenile Court Judge & Trial Attorney
Ashley is a nationally recognized Child Welfare Law Specialist and Juvenile Court Judge with over 20 years of experience as a trial attorney and legal analyst. Her life’s work revolves around passionately advocating for and striving to improve the lives of children at risk and youth in the foster care system.
After graduating from Emory University, Ashley quickly established herself as a fervent advocate for children in the juvenile court system, and served as Executive Director for Fulton County CASA for several years. With a small staff and limited budget, she focused her efforts on promoting the agency for public awareness and fundraising, determined to increase the number of CASAS to serve every neglected or abused child who came before the juvenile court. Concurrently, she established her own law practice, where she served as Special Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Human Resources, Dawson and Rockdale County Division of Family and Children Services. She also became active as a Judge Pro Tem in the DeKalb County Juvenile Court. Additionally, she was named Lead Fellow of the Cold Case Project by the Supreme Court of Georgia Committee on Justice for Children (where she has now been named a Special Master,) with the goal of achieving permanency for children in foster care to prevent them from aging out of the foster care system without a home or family.
Most recently, Ashley concluded a 3 year appointment as Director of the State of Georgia Office of the Child Advocate, a position for which she was personally selected by Governor Nathan Deal, overseeing a population of over 13,000 at risk children and youth in foster care. Highlights of her accomplishments as Director include successfully managing the investigation of approximately 600 child welfare complaints each year; completing numerous statewide audits of DFCS to identify and address issues negatively impacting the child welfare system; and providing training and education to legislators, attorney guardians ad litem, agency administrators, and stakeholders, as well as providing protocol training to 159 counties.
Currently, Ashley is back in private practice after establishing her own child welfare consulting firm, where she works as a trial attorney, legal analyst, expert witness, consultant, and Pro Tem Judge specializing in Child Welfare Law. She is a highly sought after guest lecturer and speaker for numerous organizations and universities, dedicating herself to raising public awareness and tirelessly advocating for children. She also has experience in federal court litigating the nuances of child abduction cases under the Hague Abduction Convention.
You should be very proud of your tenure as Child Advocate. You have performed with the honor and diligence that had characterized your former practice and I am sure it will continue in your future endeavors.
You are an inspiration. Thanks for all you to have done, and you should be profoundly proud of the effort and results. It has been a pleasure to be part of your team.
Very insightful, amazing. She took the time to connect with me and provide feedback directed to me.
Through the years I have sat through ever so many seminars… Your presentation [GAL CLE] was the best I have participated in, in many a year. It was on topic, informative, and the supporting documentation was outstanding. I appreciate the effort you obviously put into preparing the Powerpoint, and you presentation.
Judge, Legal Commentator
Nationally recognized Legal Analyst and Certified Child Welfare Law Specialist currently serving as a Juvenile Court Judge in DeKalb County. Regularly featured as an Expert Legal Analyst and Commentator for high profile cases on top tier national media outlets including Nancy Grace, Dr. Phil, and Michaela. Acclaimed Trial Attorney with 20 years of courtroom experience, exceptionally skilled in all aspects of litigation and negotiation. Highly sought after guest lecturer and speaker, locally and nationally, for the American Bar Association, National Association of Counsel for Children, Georgia Supreme Court Committee on Justice for Children, Emory University Law School, Barton Child Law and Policy Center, and Georgia State University, among others.
Professional Experience
ASHLEY WILLCOTT, J.D., C.W.L.S., CHILD WELFARE CONSULTING FIRM, Principal
Director, Atlanta GA 2017-Present
- Legal Analyst, TV Personality, Trial Attorney, Expert Witness, Judge, and Consultant specializing in Child Welfare Law
- Highly sought after guest lecturer and speaker for numerous organizations and universities, both locally and nationally
State of Georgia Office of the Child Advocate
Director, Atlanta GA 2014 – 2016
- Personally selected by Governor Nathan Deal as State Agency Director for a 3 year appointment, serving a population of over 13,000 at risk children and youth in foster care
- Accountable for the oversight and management of a starting budget of $950,000 and an additional $200,000 in grants (9 staff members) to investigate approximately 600 child welfare complaints each year
- Completed 14 statewide audits of DFCS (2016) to pinpoint and address issues negatively impacting both the child welfare system and the employees tasked to serve that system
- Provided training and education to legislators, government officials, agency administrators, attorney guardians at litem, stakeholders, and promoted public awareness; provided protocol training to 159 counties
Law Offices of Ashley Willcott
Lead Counsel, Atlanta, GA 1995-2014
- Special Assistant Attorney General representing the Department of Human Resources, Dawson and Rockdale County Division of Family and Children Services
- Judge Pro Tem, DeKalb County Juvenile Court
- Lead Fellow, Supreme Court of Georgia Committee, Cold Case Project, 2009-current
Fulton County CASA, Inc.
Executive Director, Atlanta GA 1997-2000
- Developed annual budget to serve Fulton County population of 817,245 (year 2000), managing fiscal and day to day operations with a staff of 5
- Wrote and submitted grant proposals and reports, resulting in receipt of $400,000 in grants
- Promoted agency for public awareness and fundraising, focusing on the main objective of how to increase the number of CASAS to serve every abused and neglected child who came before the juvenile court
- Served as Chair of Board of Directors and a member of the Steering Committee
United Cleaning Specialists Corp.
General Counsel/Exec. V.P., Atlanta, GA 1994-1995
- Handled all legal issues, employee grievances, and discrimination and unemployment claims for 1200 employees
- Managed litigation efforts with corporate personnel, insurance companies, and outside counsel
- Developed and implemented management training and employee relations programs
- Assisted in sale of company and outplacement program
Associate, Davis & Sissel 1992-1994
Education
Juris Doctor, Emory University School of Law
Atlanta, GA 1992
B.S., Psychology and English, Newcomb College, Tulane University
New Orleans, LA 1989
Certifications
Child Welfare Law Specialist, National Association of Counsel for Children
National Institute for Trial Advocacy, NITA Advocates Society Member/Trained Teacher
Professional Affiliations
Georgia DFCS State of Hope, Advisory Council
ChildKind – Board Member, Current
Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Faculty, 2014-current Georgia State University
Emory Summer Child Advocacy Program Training, Invited Speaker, 2011-current Emory Law School
Barton Child Law and Policy Clinic, Emory Law School Invited Speaker, 2009-current
Juvenile Justice CLE Seminars Invited Speaker, 1997-current
DeKalb County Juvenile Foundation Board Member, Secr., 2000-2003
Truancy Intervention Project; Kids in Need of Dreams Pro Bono Attorney, 1995-1998
Junior League of Atlanta Member, 2000-current
Membership
State Bar of Georgia (active)
State Bar of Texas (inactive)
Admitted: Supreme Court of Georgia
Admitted: Court of Appeals of Georgia
Supreme Court Committee on Justice for Children, Cold Case Project
