Alafia A. Sharpe

Phone

(757) 447-3800

Email

a.sharpe@mrt.law

Having started her legal career in public interest, Alafia brings both skill and empathy to her practice at Mahoney Richmond Thurston, PLLC.

She represents clients in all areas of family law, including divorce, custody and visitation, child and spousal support, equitable distribution, and protective orders. Alafia  is known for her thoughtful, client-centered approach, providing compassionate counsel while vigorously advocating for her clients’ interests during life’s most challenging transitions.

While in law school, she focused her studies on family and youth law, with a strong interest in the wellbeing of families and the best interests of children. She founded the Youth Law Society in her 3L year and served as a teaching assistant for the poverty law course. Not only did she excel academically, but she was also the recipient of the Honors Lawyering Program Student of the Year award during graduation.

Prior to joining MRT, Alafia served as a Staff Attorney with the Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia, where she represented clients in complex civil matters, including family law, housing, and public benefits. In that role, she handled cases from inception through appeal and successfully won an appeal before the Court of Appeals of Virginia. Earlier in her career, she practiced in California as a Staff Attorney with Children’s Legal Services of San Diego, representing minors in juvenile dependency cases, and as a Deputy Public Defender in Fresno County defending indigent clients in criminal proceedings.

Alafia grew up in Queens, New York. She is a proud military spouse and the mother of an active four-year-old daughter.