Professional Experience
Donna J. Virkus, Of Counsel with GLFPE, brings more than a decade of combined legal and court experience to her practice. While attending Thomas M. Cooley Law School on a merit scholarship, she worked full time in the Oakland County Circuit Court, Family Division, clerking for Judge Edward Sosnick. This daily, firsthand exposure to family law hearings, motion practice, and judicial decision-making gives her unique insight into how judges evaluate and resolve cases; an advantage she uses to prepare clients thoroughly and advocate effectively.
Her career includes working in both family-law-only and general practice firms, where she handled matters involving divorce, custody, child support, adoptions, minor and adult guardianships, probate issues, and related litigation. She later established and managed a family law practice within a multi-disciplinary firm, further refining her skills in complex case management and client-centered representation.
Before practicing law, Ms. Virkus built a successful business career after earning a Bachelor of Business Administration in Industrial Marketing from Western Michigan University. Her business background strengthens her ability to navigate financial issues, evaluate assets, and develop solutions for clients involved in complex marital estates.
Areas of Focus
- Divorce and separation
- Child custody and parenting time
- Child support and paternity
- Direct placement, adult, and guardianship adoptions
- Minor and adult guardianships, including cases involving Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS)
- Probate matters related to family law issues
Education
Thomas M. Cooley Law School, J.D., Litigation Concentration
Dean's List • Litigation Certificate • Moot Court
Western Michigan University, B.B.A., Industrial Marketing
Admissions
State Bar of Michigan
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
