Nonnemaker Law LLC
Our Approach
Legal matters often arise during periods of change. Our approach is grounded in structure, preparation, and realistic expectations.
We believe effective legal representation requires not only advocacy, but judgment — understanding when to act, how to prioritize issues, and how to help clients make informed decisions throughout the process.
Attorneys
Lauren Nonnemaker
Owner
Lauren focuses her practice on family-related and estate matters, with a particular depth of experience in issues affecting children and families. Her work is informed by years spent in child welfare, dependency, and advocacy settings, where decision-making, structure, and long-term consequences matter as much as legal outcomes.
Lauren is a Certified Mediator and Parenting Coordinator, and her approach emphasizes preparation, clarity, and realistic expectations throughout the legal process.
Jessica Schidlow
Of Counsel
Jessica Schidlow brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her legal work, informed by extensive experience in child welfare, mental health, and advocacy. Her background in clinical counseling and juvenile representation shapes an approach that is both legally rigorous and attentive to the real-world impact of court involvement on children and families.
Jessica is committed to advancing outcomes for court-involved youth through practices that are trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate, and grounded in legal, medical, and social-science research.
Lauren Nonnemaker
Lauren focuses her practice on family-related and estate matters, with a particular depth of experience in issues affecting children and families. Her work is informed by years spent in child welfare, dependency, and advocacy settings, where decision-making, structure, and long-term consequences matter as much as legal outcomes.
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Lauren is a Certified Mediator and Parenting Coordinator, and her approach emphasizes preparation, clarity, and realistic expectations throughout the legal process.
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Professional Background
Lauren began her legal career in family law as a paralegal while earning her undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice. Early in her career, she joined the Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network Legal Services Initiative, where she received specialized training in juvenile dependency — an experience that shaped her decision to pursue law with a focus on child welfare.
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After earning her Juris Doctor through Drexel University’s accelerated JD program, Lauren served in the Montgomery County Office of the Public Defender’s Child Advocate Unit as a guardian ad litem and legal counsel to hundreds of children involved in dependency proceedings. This work required careful judgment, strong advocacy, and the ability to navigate emotionally complex legal environments.
Lauren later joined a children’s rights policy organization, where she worked on legislative review, policy development, judicial training, and written testimony at both the state and federal levels. That experience continues to inform her perspective on how individual cases intersect with broader systems and long-term outcomes.
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Current Practice and Teaching
Lauren is now in private practice, representing clients in family-related and estate matters, including custody, adoption, protection from abuse, and related disputes. She also serves as an adjunct professor in a paralegal professional program, teaching future legal professionals practical skills grounded in real-world application.
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In addition to her legal practice, Lauren remains engaged in advocacy and professional service, including legislative work and committee involvement related to children’s rights and education.
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Outside the Courtroom
Lauren is active in her community and has served in leadership roles with youth sports organizations and school-based associations. This involvement reflects the same values that guide her legal work: responsibility, structure, and thoughtful decision-making in matters that affect families and children.
Jessica Schidlow
Jessica brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her legal work, informed by extensive experience in child welfare, mental health, and advocacy. Her background in clinical counseling and juvenile representation shapes an approach that is both legally rigorous and attentive to the real-world impact of court involvement on children and families.
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Jessica is committed to advancing outcomes for court-involved youth through practices that are trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate, and grounded in legal, medical, and social-science research.
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Professional Background
Before entering the legal field, Jessica worked as an outpatient child and family-based therapist, supporting children and families navigating complex emotional and behavioral challenges. That clinical foundation continues to inform her understanding of family dynamics, trauma, and decision-making within legal systems.
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Jessica later joined the Montgomery County Public Defender’s Office in the Child Advocacy Unit, where she represented hundreds of at-risk and dependent youth in Juvenile and Orphans’ Court proceedings. This work required close coordination with courts, agencies, and caregivers, as well as careful advocacy for children whose needs often extended beyond the legal issues before the court.
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Advocacy and Leadership
Jessica currently serves as Legal Director at a national children’s rights organization, where her work includes legislative analysis, policy development, and advocacy related to child welfare and abuse prevention. Her role reflects a continued commitment to improving systems that affect children at both the individual and structural levels.
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In addition to her legal practice, Jessica remains active in professional organizations and bar committees focused on children’s rights and the intersection of law, mental health, and public policy.
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Education and Credentials
Jessica earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology through an honors program, followed by a master’s degree in Professional Clinical and Counseling Psychology, graduating with distinction. She earned her Juris Doctor through an accelerated JD program, where she was actively involved in research and professional leadership.
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Jessica is a National Board-Certified Counselor and a member of professional organizations dedicated to the representation and protection of children.