MICHELLE M. HOPKINS, ESQUIRE PRINCIPAL ATTORNEY AND OWNER
Michelle has more than 10 years of litigation and trial experience. During Michelle’s experience training to be an attorney, she clerked for the Hawaii State Office of the Attorney General, Education Division, and the Judiciary, Staff Attorney Office. She also worked as an education site manager at Hickam, Air Force Base, in Hawaii. While attending law school, Michelle served as a law clerk for The Carlberg Law Firm. Upon graduation from Law School, she continued to work for the firm as an Associate Attorney.
Additionally, since the year 2004, Michelle has continued to serve as an Adjunct Professor for Hawaii Pacific University teaching a range of courses including Introduction to American Political Processes, Public Personnel Management, Political Ideologies, and Public Administration. She excels in this role as a professor in due to her communication skills, which are also appreciated by clients.
Michelle has been selected as a Super Lawyers® Rising Star. She has been recognized as a top 10 Lawyer in Virginia by the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys since 2017. For the last 11 consecutive years (as of 2024), Michelle received the Client Champion Award by Martindale-Hubble®. She has also been recognized as a Top Lawyer every year since 2017 by Northern Virginia Magazine.
Michelle resides in Northern Virginia, where she enjoys spending time with her children, reading, cooking, being outdoors, and attending theater performances in Washington, D.C.
Education
- George Mason University School of Law, J.D.
- Troy State University, M.P.A.
- George Mason University, B.S.
Bar Admission
- Commonwealth of Virginia, 2008
- District of Columbia, 2010
Professional Associations
- Virginia State Bar Association
- Prince William County Bar Association
- Fairfax County Bar Association
- Virginia Women Attorneys Association
- American Bar Association
- Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
Practice Areas
- Family Law/ Divorce/Custody/Visitation/Support
- DUI/DWI/Traffic
- Estate Planning/Wills & Trusts/Advanced Medical Directives
SYDNEY REMAILY MANAGING ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY
Sydney Remaily joined The Hopkins Law Firm in 2019. She graduated from James Madison University in May 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Sydney graduated with her Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Catholic University in May 2024. She assists both Michelle and the firm’s associate attorneys in legal matters and works to provide the best outcomes for all clients. Sydney supports clients and the legal team through communication, research, and drafting documents. She is originally from Philadelphia but fell in love with the DMV area and decided to stay. Sydney loves to help people and, for this reason, she was drawn to family law. Outside of the office, she likes to spend time with her Olde English bulldog named Patsy, read non-fiction books, and cook.
AIMEE RODRIGUEZ ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY
Aimee (“I-MAY”) Rodriguez joined the Hopkins Law Firm in 2025. She graduated from Washington & Lee University twice—in 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts in East Asian Languages and Literatures (EALL) and History and again in 2024 with her Juris Doctor (J.D.). Aimee assists the team in making the law accessible to clients and guiding them in presenting their case to a Virginia court, particularly through her skills in research, writing, and breakdown of legal concepts.
Aimee is a Virginia native, having returned permanently after spending time with her grandparents in South Carolina. Outside of working hours, Aimee can be spotted at any given museum accessible via the Metro. She also enjoys spending time watching TV with her tortoiseshell cats, Naomi and Natalie, drawing, and playing video games.
CASSANDRA NELSON PARALEGAL
Cassandra Nelson joined The Hopkins Law Firm in 2025 after earning her Bachelor of Arts in English from Christopher Newport University in 2024. She supports the firm’s attorneys by assisting with legal research, drafting documents, case management, and communicating with clients and counsel.
A lifelong Virginia resident, she enjoys spending time in Old Town Warrenton, reading, writing, and visiting with friends and family outside of the office.
BELLA M. HOPKINS & BRAXTON E. HOPKINS – SECURITY TEAM
Bella is an 12-year old Boxer who accompanies Michelle to the office on most days. She alerts the office whenever anyone enters and promptly guards Michelle’s feet under her desk. She loves children and women, but isn’t as fond of the postman, FEDEX or UPS delivery persons.
Braxton, recently promoted to junior security specialist, is a 5-year-old boxer and mentors Bella’s superior security skills. Exuberant and playful, he follows Bella and barks when prompted by Bella.