Siwek, James J.

Elizabeth L. Hughes is a 2004 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where she served as president of her law school class and student commencement speaker. Ms. Hughes began her legal career in Pittsburgh as a clerk for the Honorable Justin M. Johnson of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania.

Ms. Hughes has a diverse professional background, which includes experience in the fields of family law, mental health law and prevention programming. Prior to joining Raphael, Ramsden & Behers, Ms. Hughes served as an Assistant Solicitor for the County of Allegheny, representing the Office of Behavioral Health and the Office of Intellectual Disabilities. Ms. Hughes also spent several years as a clinical adjunct professor in the Hugo L. Black Law Clinic at Duquesne University Law School, where she supervised students in serving clients through the Pro Se Assistance program in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas Family Division. Ms. Hughes has experience representing clients in custody, divorce, support, and protection from abuse proceedings in her solo practice prior to joining Raphael, Ramsden & Behers. Ms. Hughes’s extensive background in the area of mental health has prepared her to address unique challenges that may often arise in the course of family law matters.

Prior to attending law school, Ms. Hughes spent several years in Phoenix, Arizona where she was responsible for coordinating the youth violence prevention program, Project BRAVE, for the City’s At-Risk Youth Division. Ms. Hughes also served on the City of Phoenix Domestic Violence Task Force. Ms. Hughes is a proud Pittsburgh native and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Clarion University of Pennsylvania.

Ms. Hughes currently serves as the vice president of the University of Pittsburgh Law Alumni Association board of governors and is a board member of Neighborhood Legal Services Association, Addison Behavioral Care and the American Civil Liberties Union- Greater Pittsburgh Chapter.