Michelle Parker
Michelle Parker has lived in Virginia Beach, since her military family was stationed here over 45 years ago. Michelle attended grade school through college in Virginia Beach, receiving her Juris Doctor from Regent University School of Law in May 2004. She joined the Decker Law team in September 2004 and has served the Hampton Roads community ever since.
Michelle focuses her practice primarily on personal injury/civil litigation and estate planning/litigation. Michelle skillfully leverages her over 20 years of experience in advocating for her clients and uses her knowledge and leadership skills to advance the legal profession.
As a member of Virginia Women Attorneys Association (VWAA), she has served as a member of the statewide Board of Directors for most of the past 15 years, including serving as VWAA President 2017-18. She also strives to serve her community through VWAA- Hampton Roads, which participates with several organizations to provide school supplies each year, while her work with the James Kent American Inn of Court devotes time each year to the Food Bank of Southeastern Virginia. As an animal lover, she works to raise additional funds for the Norfolk Animal Care Center, through her service on the FNACC Board.
Michelle has been recognized by Virginia Lawyer’s Weekly as a Leader in the Law (2022) and as a member of the 2026 class of Influential Women of Law. Most recently, she was included in the 33rd Edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, in the practice areas of Litigation – Trusts and Estates and Trusts and Estates, a distinction earned through peer review by fellow attorneys.
When asked what drives her, she is straightforward in her answer: “a sincere desire and genuine hope that I can help people during very difficult times in their lives. I hope that my legal counsel will make their lives better in a meaningful way.”
“Legal matters are often overwhelming, but they don’t have to be. I help clients navigate the complexities of the law, so they feel empowered to make smart choices.”
MICHELLE’S HIGHLIGHTS
Wills, trusts, estates and elder law, alongside personal injury, across all seven cities. Michelle’s colleagues elected her President of the Virginia Women Attorneys Association.
AREAS OF PRACTICE
- Wills, Trusts & Estates
- Probate
- Personal Injury
- Elder Law
- Civil Litigation
BAR ADMISSIONS
- All Virginia State Courts
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of VA
EDUCATION
- Virginia Wesleyan College (now Batten University) – B.A. Psychology (2000)
- Regent University School of Law – J.D. (2004)
Michelle’s colleagues keep putting her in charge of things. She was elected President of the Virginia Women Attorneys Association for 2017–18, co-chairs its Judiciary Committee, and belongs to its Hampton Roads chapter. She sits on the executive committee of the James Kent chapter of the American Inns of Court and serves as its President for 2025–26. She is on the Virginia State Bar’s Bench Bar Relations Committee, and belongs to the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association and the Norfolk and Portsmouth Bar Association. Bar leadership is unpaid, thankless, and elected by the people who watch you work — which makes it a more honest measure of professional standing than most of the things lawyers put on websites.
The one board that isn’t about the profession tells you the rest: she is a director of the Friends of Norfolk Animal Care Center.
Her own time goes to the home teams without much interest in picking a favorite among them — the Tides, the Admirals, ODU, Norfolk State — and spends her time in the region’s parks, museums, gardens and theaters, Chrysler Hall and the Wells among them, “because I love nature and art.” She kayaks, travels, and takes on DIY projects. In January 2025 she was, in her own words, “promoted to grandma (Gigi). Best gig EVER!”
“I was promoted to grandma (Gigi) in January, 2025. Best gig EVER!”
PROFESSIONAL AND CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS
- Virginia Women Attorneys Association (VWAA) – Board of Directors (Director at Large – Hampton Roads)
- VWAA – President 2017-18
- James Kent American Inn of Court (JKIC) – Executive Committee/Board Member
- JKIC – President 2017-18
- Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (Diversity and Inclusion Alliance Committee)
- Norfolk-Portsmouth Bar Association – Bench Bar Conference Committee member
- Friends of Norfolk Animal Care Center – Board Member
- Virginia State Bar, Bench-Bar Relations Committee
- Virginia Beach Bar Association – Member
- Dames Foundation – Board Member
Awards/Recognition
- 2017/18 – Top Lawyer – Wills, Trusts, and Estates – Coastal Virginia Magazine
- 2019 – Top Lawyer – Wills, Trusts, and Estates – Coastal Virginia Magazine
- 2022 – Leader in the Law – Virginia Lawyers Weekly
- 2026 – Influential Women of Law – Virginia Lawyers Weekly
- 2027 – The Best Lawyers in America® – 33rd Edition – Trusts and Estates – Litigation-Trusts and Estates
IF YOU NEED HELP, TALK TO MICHELLE TODAY
The Decker Law Firm is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for free consultations. Fill out the form below and a member of our team will be in touch promptly — because when something important is on the line, waiting shouldn’t be part of the process.