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Elizabeth L. Gray

Elizabeth L. Gray

Principal

Elizabeth Gray is a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) through the National Elder Law Foundation, with nearly three decades of legal experience and more than twenty years focused on elder law, special needs planning, and estate administration. She provides thoughtful, personalized guidance in estate planning, elder law, special needs trusts, guardianships, and related matters—developing tailored solutions to meet each client’s unique needs.

Elizabeth is a member of the Special Needs Alliance, an invitation-only national organization of leading attorneys in the field. She is a past president and “Outstanding Member” award recipient of the Virginia Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), a member of NAELA’s Council of Advanced Practitioners, and has served as co-chair of multiple sections of the Fairfax Bar Association. She also serves on the Board of Directors of The Arc of Northern Virginia.

Recognized among the region’s top elder law attorneys, Elizabeth has been listed in Best Lawyers in America since 2012 and named a Super Lawyer in Elder Law for Virginia and Washington, D.C. every year since 2009. She holds an AV® Preeminent™ rating from Martindale-Hubbell, a “Superb” rating on AVVO, and was honored as part of the Influential Women of Virginia class of 2012 and as a “Leader in the Law” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly in 2020.

A member of the Virginia State Bar since 1996, Elizabeth earned her legal education through Virginia’s Law Reader Program, apprenticing under a practicing attorney instead of attending a traditional law school—a path that reflects her practical, down-to-earth approach to law and life. Outside the office, she enjoys reading, jogging, and spending time with her husband, son, and their Weimaraner, Casper.

Honors +
  • Class of 2020 “Leaders in the Law
  • AV® Preeminent™ ranking by Martindale-Hubbell
  • “Superb” rating on AVVO
  • Listed in Best Lawyers of America each year since 2012, an honor given to only 5% of attorneys
  • Named Elder Law “Lawyer of the Year” for 2018 by Best Lawyers®
  • Named to the Influential Women of Virginia class of 2012
  • SuperLawyer in Elder Law for Virginia and Washington, D.C. each year since 2009
  • Named in Washingtonian Magazine among the top elder law attorneys in the Washington, D.C. area since 2009
  • Listed in Northern Virginia Magazine among the top elder law attorneys in the Northern Virginia area since 2011
  • In 2015 Elizabeth was recognized by her legal peers as “Lawyer of the Year” in Elder Law for Metropolitan DC in U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Lawyers – 2015” guide
  • Recipient of the “Legal Assistance Distinguished Service Award” from the American Bar Association for helping victims of the September 11 attacks
Activities +
  • Certified as an Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation (NELF)
  • Member of the Special Needs Alliance
  • Board Member of The Arc of Northern Virginia
  • Former Board Member of Brain Injury Services
  • Current member of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
  • Member of NAELA’s invitation-only Council of Advanced Practitioners
  • Past-President and the 2011 recipient of the “Outstanding Member” award of the Virginia chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)
  • Former co-chair of three different sections of the Fairfax County Bar Association
  • Virginia Bar Association
Publications +

Education

  • Rather than going to a typical law school, Liz is a Virginia “law reader.” Under the law reader program, the student apprentices with an attorney under the guidelines issued by the Virginia Supreme Court and at the end of the program the student is eligible to take the Virginia Bar Examination.

Admissions

  • Virginia

Awards

Noteworthy Updates

News & Highlights

ELIZABETH GRAY AND MELINDA MERK NAMED WASHINGTONIAN’S TOP ESTATE ATTORNEYS 2026

ELIZABETH GRAY FEATURED IN WASHINGTONIAN’S “60 FOR 60” SERIES

ELIZABETH GRAY NAMED TO TOP LAWYERS HALL OF FAME

ELIZABETH GRAY NAMED TO 2020 “LEADERS IN THE LAW”

AMERICA IS RAPIDLY AGING

ELDER LAW PODCAST

“DO NOT HOSPITALIZE” ORDERS

ML ATTORNEYS RECOGNIZED BY BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA® 2025

SNA ARMCHAIR CHAT: THE INTERSECTION OF SPECIAL NEEDS TRUSTS AND FAMILY LAW

SPECIAL NEEDS ALLIANCE CELEBRATES 20 YEARS

SPECIAL NEEDS TRUSTS FOR THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED

ELIZABETH GRAY AND MELINDA MERK NAMED WASHINGTONIAN’S TOP ESTATE ATTORNEYS 2024

WASHINGTONIAN’S GUIDE TO RETIREMENT LIVING IN THE DC-AREA

ELIZABETH GRAY AND MELINDA MERK NAMED WASHINGTONIAN’S TOP ESTATE ATTORNEYS 2025

2025 SUPER LAWYERS NAMES ML ATTORNEYS

ML ATTORNEYS RECOGNIZED BY BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA® 2026

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ML ATTORNEYS NAMED TO LEGAL ELITE FOR 2025

10 ML ATTORNEYS NAMED TO NORTHERN VIRGINIA MAGAZINE’S TOP LAWYERS LIST FOR 2025

Client Testimonials

What Our Clients Are Saying

[McCandlish Lillard is] an exceptional group of attorneys. If you have estate planning or elder law needs, you can’t go wrong with Liz Gray. In addition to being a nationwide expert, she’s also a lovely person who serves on the board of the ARC of Northern Virginia, mentors newer attorneys, and truly puts her heart into everything she does. I would hire her without hesitation.

An exceptional group of attorneys

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Fairfax Office

Leesburg Office