She is a Board-Certified Specialist in Family Law and a Fellow in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. She is currently serving as an Advisor on the Ethics Committee of the NC State Bar (2023–present). Lori has also served as the President of the North Carolina Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (2015), Chair of the Family Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association (2011-2012), and Chair of the Wake County Bar Association Professionalism Committee (2007-2012). In addition to other activities, she is a frequent course planner and lecturer for legal education courses on family law and related topics. A graduate of Wake Forest University School of Law, Lori has been recognized in the Best Lawyers in America since 2007, Business North Carolina’s Legal Elite since 2009, designated “Top Legal Elite for Family Law” in 2014, and is now in the Legal Elite Hall of Fame. She has been named in North Carolina Super Lawyers, including the Top 50 Women Attorneys (2012- Present), Top 100 Attorneys in North Carolina (2012-2018, 2025-2026), and Top 25 Lawyers in Raleigh (2013, 2015-2016, 2018). Vitale Family Law has been ranked by U.S. News and World Report as a Top Tier Family Law Firm since 2013.

Certified Legal Specialties

Board Certified Specialist in Family Law, North Carolina State Bar, 2001

Education

• Wake Forest University School of Law, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
  J.D. – 1995
• Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, Lynchburg, Virginia
• B.A. – 1992 (International Relations, Philosophy, German)
• The University of Texas at Austin 1988-1990

Bar Admissions

• State of North Carolina, 1995
• U.S. District Court Middle District of North Carolina, 1995
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of North Carolina, 1996

Honors and Awards

• Best Lawyers “Women in the Law”, 2022-present
• AV Rating from Martindale-Hubbell
• Best Lawyers, 2007-present
• “Legal Elite” and “Legal Elite Hall of Fame” by Business North Carolina, 2009- present
• North Carolina Super Lawyers, 2011 to present
• Top 100: North Carolina Super Lawyers, 2012-2018, 2025-2026
• Top 50: Women North Carolina Super Lawyers, 2012-present
• Top 25: Raleigh Super Lawyers, 2013, 2015-2016, 2018
• Rising Star: North Carolina Super Lawyers, 2009-2010
• President’s Award of Excellence from the Wake County Bar Association and Tenth Judicial District, 2009

Professional Activities

North Carolina State Bar
Advisor, Ethics Committee, 2023-present
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
Fellow, 2007-present
President, NC Chapter of America Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2015-2016
North Carolina Bar Association
Chair, Family Law Section, 2011-2012
Chair, Family Law Continuing Legal Education Committee, 2007-2010
Member, Family Law Council, 2002-2004, 2006-2010
Wake County Bar Association/10th Judicial District
Chair, Professionalism Committee, 2007-2012
Member, Grievance Committee, 2022-2024
Mediator, Fee Dispute Committee, 2006-2020
Board of Directors, 2006-2008
NC-AFCC/AFCC
Chapter Formation Committee, 2022
CLE Committee, 2023
Artsplosure
President of Board of Directors, 2014-2016
Board of Directors, 2009-2023

Lecturer/Course Planner

Lori has been a course planner, author, and/or speaker for the following legal education programs:

Course Planner, “Human Intelligence: The Algorithm and Beyond – Human Advocacy in a

Digital Era; Family Law Intensive Program,” NCBA, October 2025 and January 2026

Course Planner, “Phone-A-Friend, 2024 Family Law Fall CLE Program,” NCBA, September 2024

Panelist, NC-AFCC: The Slippery Slope of Definitions, The Deceptive Concepts of Trauma, Intimate Partner Violence, and Resist-Refuse Dynamics, 2023
Course Planner, NC-AAML Family Law Symposium: “Cutting Edge Family Law”, 2023
Speaker, “The Effect of The New Legislative Changes to N.C. Gen. Stat.§50-20.1 On The Treatment of Executive Compensation in Divorce in North Carolina”, NCBA Family Law Intensive Seminar, January 2022
Course Planner, “Happy Anniversary ITACAT! The Next 10 Years….What the Future Held”, NCBA, September 2020
Speaker, North Carolina State Bar Opioid Summit, October 2019
Course Planner, NC Family Law Specialist CLE, Kiawah , SC, 2019 “Trouble in Paradise”
Course Planner, “Deal or No Deal? Attacking and Enforcing Agreements, Orders and Awards”, NCBA, September 2009
Course Planner, “How Do You Mend A Broken Heart”, NCBA, Family Law Annual Conference, 2008
“Death and Divorce in North Carolina”, NCBA, September 2006
Course Planner, “Perils and Pitfalls in Alternative Dispute Resolution”, NCBA, September 2005
Course Planner, “Family Law In Bush’s America”, Family Law Specialist Seminar July 2005
“Hot Topics in Family Law: Evidentiary Issues in Child Custody” Cases, NCBA, September 2004
“What About the Children?”, NCBA, September 2002
“Ethical Considerations When Representing a Special Needs Client”, NCBA, 2011
Speaker, Ethics Discussion (The Uh-Oh Moments….Intensive Equitable Distribution Seminar), NCBA, November 2009 and February 2010
Program Planner, Wake County Bar Association Professionalism Roundtable Discussion, 2005 – 2007
Course Planner, “Recent Developments in Professional Responsibility”, Wake Forest University, October 2006
Speaker, “Broaching the Alternative Dispute Resolution Subject with Clients”, NCBA, September 2005
Speaker, “Interstate Child Support”, Wake Forest University, October 2001
Speaker, “Enforcing Your Order and Judgment Through Contempt and Proper Filing of Judgments”, NCATL, September 2001
Speaker, “Parol Evidence”, NCBA, May 2001
Speaker, “Legal Traps in Bankruptcy, Real Property and Domestic Violence”, NCBA, November 2000
Speaker, “Post Trial Practice”, Wake Forest University, October 2000
Speaker, “Child Support, Domestic Violence and Ex Parte Contact”, NCATL, January 1999