Leonette Lewis

Leonette Lewis is a legal professional with a strong background in family law and a deep commitment to protecting vulnerable children and supporting families in crisis. A graduate of Howard University School of Law, Leonette served as a judicial law clerk to a Family Court judge in Washington, D.C., where she worked on abuse and neglect cases. While in law school, she also served as a student attorney in the Family Law Clinic, representing clients navigating the challenges of removals, foster care, and meeting family reunification goals. These experiences cemented her dedication to ensuring that the dignity of both children and families remain central in the legal process.
Leonette’s professional career has also included service as a junior attorney for the U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid, Borrower’s Defense, where she adjudicated borrower defense claims and interpreted complex education law to decide said cases on the merits. Since relocating to Pittsburgh, she has expanded her legal services to include wills, trusts, and estate planning, helping families protect their legacies and plan for the future. Her commitment to service extends beyond the legal field. In Raleigh, North Carolina, Leonette co-founded Cecelia’s Salon & Boutique, named in honor of her late aunt. The business not only provided beauty services, but also offered wigs to cancer patients and actively supported breast cancer organizations through fundraising and donations. Born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut, Leonette now resides in the Pittsburgh area with her husband and two children. She is passionate about advancing equity, dignity, and care for families navigating the foster care system, and although she is not currently licensed in Pennsylvania, she brings both her legal expertise and her lived commitment to service, advocacy, and community impact.