Shelley Senterfitt has been in private practice since 2001. Her practice focuses on family law matters including divorce, child custody, child support, and modifications. Shelley has extensive experience in representing victims of domestic violence and their children in civil matters. In addition to serving as a guardian ad litem in both superior and juvenile courts, Shelley represents children in delinquency cases and parents in deprivation cases in juvenile court.

In addition to her family law practice, Shelley engages in legislative advocacy during the Georgia General Assembly. Current and past clients include the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Georgia Women for a Change (formerly the Women’s Policy Group), the Georgia Network to End Sexual Assault, and the Atlanta Women’s Agenda. Shelley advocates for substantive legislation as well as budget appropriations that impact women and children in Georgia.

Prior to establishing Senterfitt & Knight, Shelley practiced as a solo practitioner, served as a Pro Bono Fellow with Hunton & Williams, and served as a law clerk to the Honorable Orinda D. Evans, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.

Shelley is well recognized in the community for her leadership and service. In 2004, the Fulton County Daily Report singled out Shelley as one of the “21 to Watch” in its article on young lawyers “On the Rise.” Shelley has been featured in Georgia Trend’s Legal Elite listing for pro bono representation and has been selected as a Super Lawyer Rising Star. Shelley has received awards from community organizations including the Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence, the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, the National Association of Women Lawyers, the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers, Creative Loafing, and the State Bar of Georgia.

Shelley’s record of community involvement is extensive. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Carolina Women’s Center, Intown Collaborative Ministries, and Family Circle and was an active member of Kasim Reed’s campaign for Mayor. Shelley volunteers as an English tutor for an Afghani refugee and serves on the Advocacy Committee of Morningside Presbyterian Church. A graduate of Leadership Atlanta, Class of 2007, Shelley has served as a mentor through Emory Law School’s Public Interest Committee, a volunteer for domestic violence crisis lines, a volunteer for numerous political campaigns, and a Co-Chair of the Community Service Committee of the State Bar of Georgia, Young Lawyers Division. Shelley has also served on the Atlanta Women’s Foundation’s Challenging Violence Against Women Grantmaking Committee, the Advisory Board for the Internet-Based Domestic Violence Court Preparation System, the board of directors of the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia, and the Crimes Against Women Committee of the Fulton County District Attorney’s Transition Task Force.

Shelley graduated cum laude from the University of Georgia School of Law in 2000. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with highest distinction in 1994. A native of Atlanta, Shelley is also a graduate of the Atlanta Public Schools.