Don Shaw

When I was very young, my father broke his back working for the railroad. My earliest memories are of him lying in the living room of our small house in rural Appalachia on a hospital bed alongside the bay window, in a full body cast. I was seven when my father started college and eleven when I watched him cross the stage at the age of 35; the first college graduate in his family. That experience shaped who I am and my calling to dedicate my adult life to service to others.

From a young age, I joined the military and proudly served my country for the next 20 years. As a noncommissioned officer, I spent many hours every day training young soldiers. I volunteered to serve as an international arms control interpreter and spent five years traveling in the former Soviet Union working to reduce the threat of nuclear weapons.

The Army moved me to Prince William County in 1997 and I am proud to call Virginia home. My daughter, Ashley, is a special needs person and has been a great influence in my life. Like many parents, I had no idea where to start and struggled to work through the system on Ashley’s behalf. That experience played a large part in my decision to practice law.

I established my law practice to continue what I consider life’s highest calling: service to others. As a veteran and the father of a person with special needs, I understand at a very personal level the importance of proper estate planning.