Mary E. Schellhammer, Esq., has nearly 20 years experience as an arbitrator and a special master in divorce. Ms. Schellhammer has undergone collaborative practice training as well as special mediation training in the areas of child access and divorce. She has practiced primarily family law in addition to a broad range of other areas of the law and is currently in Private Practice.
Judicial Experience
Keystone Hearings and Appeals, LLC
2010 – 2011
Administrative Law Judge: hearing Medicaid appeals
Somerset County, PA
2001 – 2003
Standing Domestic and Juvenile Master: responsibilities included conducting and presiding over juvenile detention, child, spousal, alimony pendente lite, alimony, divorce, and equitable distribution hearings, from which recommendations for disposition were made to the court.
Somerset and Cambria Counties, PA
1996 – Present
Arbitrator and Special Master in Divorce: duties include conducting and presiding over hearings from which final dispositions are made.
Legal Experience
Private Practice of Law
Somerset, PA
2003 – Present
Attorney: actively litigating and serving clients in the areas of divorce, support, custody, dependency, PFAs, adoption, premarital planning, estate planning, and domestic mediation.
District Attorney’s Office
Somerset County, PA
2006 – 2011
Assistant District Attorney: duties included preparation for and prosecution of adult criminal cases and juvenile delinquency allegations.
Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Services
Private Attorney Involvement Program
2003 – 2007
Liaison: duties included overseeing the local operation of the PAI Program including delegating civil cases to participating attorneys for indigent and low-income clients for action as well as compiling monthly billing statements for submission and payment.
Southern Alleghenies Legal Aid, Inc.
Johnston, PA
1994 – 2000
Staff Attorney: responsibilities include interviewing and advising clients, negotiation, preparation of pleadings and briefs, memoranda, and correspondence, conducting court hearings, and public education. Primary fields of practice were domestic law, abuse, education, foreclosure, bankruptcy, public benefits, landlord/tenant, and general civil defense. Extensive experience acquired in trial and appellate litigation.
Hollander, Moses, Wertkin & Morganstern (formerly Evans-Ivory)
Pittsburgh, PA
1989 – 1990; and 1991 – 1994
Law Clerk: responsibilities included assisting staff with litigation preparation, record searches, research, and brief writing.
Plowman & Spiegel
Pittsburgh, PA
1990 – 1991
Law Clerk: responsibilities included research, writing briefs, drafting pleadings, record searches,
and general litigation support.
Other Experience
Cambria County Area Community College
Johnstown, PA
1995 – 1996
Instructor: responsibilities included development and preparation of class material, supervision of students, and instruction of two classes in the field of banking law – Law and Banking I: Principles; and Law and Banking II: Application
Education
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA
M.S. Ed., August 1996
Honors: suma cum laude
University of Pittsburgh School of Law
Pittsburgh, PA
J.D., May 1991
Honors and Activities: First Year Moot Court
Honors;
Student Advisor/Advisee
Program
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA
B.A., May 1988
Majors: English and Philosophy
Minor: History
Honors and Activities: Dean’s List;
Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society;
Dean’s Pre-Law Committee;
Pre-Law Society Treasurer;
Academic (Scholastic) All-American Collegiate Award USAA Nation;
Collegiate Award for Philosophy and Religion; and Dormitory Wing Leader
Licensure/Certifications
- Pennsylvania Bar
Admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States, United State court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, Court of Common Pleas of Somerset County, Court of Common Pleas of Cambria County, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Memberships
- Pennsylvania Bar Association
Member: 1991 – Present
Family Law Section: 1995 – Present
Legal Service to the Public Committee Member: 1998
Leadership Institute Class: 1998
Leadership Institute Committee Member: 1999 –2000
House Delegates Member: 2002 – 2007
Family Law Section Council Member: 2006 – 2009
Real Property Trust and Probate Liaison to Board of Governors: 2007 – 2008
Corrections Committee Liaison to Board of Governors: 2007 – 2010
Nominating Committee Member: 2007 – 2010
Criminal Justice Section: 2007 – Present
Zone Eight Governor: 2007 – 2010
Foundation Life Fellow: 2008
Solo & Small Firm Section: 2008 – Present
Family Law Section Rules Committee Member: 2008 – 2009
Long Range Planning Committee Member and Subcommittee Chair: 2008 – Present
Finance Committee Ex-Officio Member: 2008 –2010
Audit Committee Chair: 2008 – 2010
Family Law Section Board of Governors Liaison: 2008 – 2010
Family Law Section Program Committee Member: 2008 – Present (Co-Chair July 2010 – July 2011)
Family Law Section Nominating Committee Member: 2009
Criminal Law Section Board of Governors Liaison: 2009 – 2010
Criminal Justice Section Vice-Chair: 2009 – 2011
Bar Leadership Institute Co-Chair: 2010 – Present
Family Law Section Treasurer: 2010 – 2011
Mentoring Program/Mentor Participant: 2010 – 2011
- Cambria County Bar Association
Member: 1994 – Present
Board of Managers: 1998 – 2000
- Somerset County Bar Association
Member: 1996 – Present
Executive Committee Member: 1999 – Present
Secretary/Treasurer: 2001 – Present
Family Law Adhoc Committee Member: 2001 –Present
Pennsylvania District Attorney’s Association
Member: 2006 – Present
- Juvenile Prosecutor’s Network
Member: 2006 – 2011
- Pennsylvania Council of Mediators
Member: 2005 – Present
- Somerset County Blind Center Advisory Board
Member: 2008 – Present
- Somerset County Historical Society
Member: 1999 – Present
- Kidd’s Castle Daycare Board of Directors
Member: 1996 – 2002
- Boy Scout Explorer Leader
1996 – 1997
Additional Qualifications
- Mediation Training
- Mediation Matters
- Basic Divorce Mediation (40 hours): 2003
- Child Access Mediation (20 hours): 2004
- PBI Collaborative Practice Training
- Collaborative Practice Training (12 hours): 2009
Awards
- Pennsylvania Bar Association Family Law Section Award of Achievement: 2008
- Southern Alleghenies Legal Aid, Inc. Striving Toward Excellence Award: 2000