Shelly Stephens
Owner/Operator - Mediator
Shelly has worked closely with Attorney David F. Dickinson as his Paralegal at Dickinson & Willis, LLC since October of 2020. She has expanded her comprehension in the areas of personal injury, property damage, wills and estate matters, property disputes, and the fundamentals of litigation. Since working at the firm, Shelly has completed the required training to obtain her registered Georgia Neutral License and has completed the required CLEs yearly to maintain her license.
She created Magnolia Mediation Services, LLC once learning of David’s pending retirement. She has cultivated lasting ties to local community members and organizations through her professional, academic and community volunteer work. She endeavors to continue working within the community by providing mediation and legal administrative services to Walton County's local law firms and courts.
She assisted with the successful campaign for elected city official, David F. Dickinson as the social media director and continues to volunteer as an alumna with a local Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society chapter, Alpha Tau Zeta at Athens Technical College.
Raised in Jersey, Georgia, however a citizen of Monroe for more than ten years, Shelly enjoys spending her time kayaking, fishing, and hiking with her husband, son, daughter, and three dogs.
David F. Dickinson
Licensed Attorney at Law - ArbitraTor
Family
My wife is Rita Dickinson and we have been married for 45 years. Rita retired from the Walton County School District in 2014 and then founded the Monroe Country Day School which is a small private K-12 academy located on Church Street. Rita and I live in a historic house at 512 East Church Street and have lived in that neighborhood for 40 years. We raised our three daughters here and two of them still live in Monroe and are employed as educators. We have six grandchildren and four of those live in Monroe. Rita and I are members of Grace Monroe Church.
Education & Professional
I received my Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia Law School and my Master of Public Administration from the University of Georgia School of Public and International Affairs. I received my Bachelor’s in Political Science from Guilford College.
After graduating law school, I started my law firm in Monroe which is now known as Dickinson & Willis, LLC. I have practiced law in the state and federal courts for over 36 years and have represented thousands of Monroe and Walton County citizens in my career. I am also the majority owner of South on Broad restaurant located in wonderful downtown Monroe.
Community & Public Service
I have served as your Council representative for Super District 8 since being elected in 2017. I also served as your Mayor from 1998 through 2002. I have served on numerous boards for government, civic and charitable organizations including the Walton County Boys & Girls Club, Hope Monroe, Inc., the Monroe Historic Preservation Commission and the McDaniel-Tichenor House. I have served as Municipal Court Judge for the cities of Monroe, Social Circle and Walnut Grove and as Judge Pro Tempore for the Walton County Juvenile Court.