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Elizabeth L. Gray

Elizabeth L. Gray

Principal

Certified as an Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation (NELF), Elizabeth has demonstrated her expertise in elder law and special needs law for over 20 years. Elizabeth focuses her practice in the areas of estate planning, elder law, special needs planning, guardianships, and the administration of estates. She provides experience, compassion and a meticulous attention to details in all of her work. This includes the drafting of trusts (including special needs trusts, pet trusts, trusts to minimize income taxes and capital gains), wills, powers of attorney, medical powers of attorney (also known as advance medical directives), and other succession planning documents. Elizabeth has the experience to find solutions to each clientโ€™s individual needs rather than simply using forms or other โ€œboiler plateโ€ materials. She has developed a reputation among her peers in the legal community as the โ€œgo toโ€ person in the areas of elder law and special needs planning.

In addition, Elizabeth is a member of the Special Needs Alliance โ€“ an invitation-only nationwide attorney organization. She is a Past-President and the 2011 recipient of the โ€œOutstanding Memberโ€ award of the Virginia chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA); a member of NAELAโ€™s invitation-only Council of Advanced Practitioners; and former co-chair of three different sections of the Fairfax County Bar Association. She is a current member of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association and sits on the Board of Directors of The Arc of Northern Virginia.

Her other accolades include: AVยฎ Preeminentโ„ข ranking by Martindale-Hubbell and a โ€œSuperbโ€ rating on AVVO. Elizabeth has been listed in Best Lawyers of America each year since 2012, an honor given to only 5% of attorneys; a recipient of the Influential Women of Virginia class of 2012; a 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; and listed in Northern Virginia Magazine among the top elder law attorneys in the Northern Virginia area since 2011. Additionally, in 2015 Elizabeth was recognized by her legal peers as โ€œLawyer of the Yearโ€ in Elder Law for Metropolitan DC in U.S. News and World Reportโ€™s โ€œBest Lawyers โ€“ 2015โ€ guide.

The award she is most proud of is the โ€œLegal Assistance Distinguished Service Awardโ€ from the American Bar Association for helping victims of the September 11 attacks.

Quoted in such publications as MSN Money and The Washington Post, Elizabeth provides frequent educational seminars for the public and helps fellow attorneys hone their skills by teaching Continuing Legal Education classes (CLE).

Elizabeth Gray has been practicing law since 1996. She is a member of the bar of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Rather than going to a typical law school, Liz is a Virginia โ€œlaw reader.โ€ 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. This unique way of obtaining her legal education has given her a down to earth attitude and an approachable style.

When she is not working, you can find Elizabeth reading, jogging, or just spending time with her family โ€“ her son, husband, and their beloved Weimaraner, Casper. A little-known fact: Elizabeth is a former professional violinist, having played with the Binghamton Symphony Orchestra and the Binghamton Pops.

Honors +
  • Class of 2020 โ€œLeaders in the Lawโ€œ
  • AVยฎ Preeminentโ„ข ranking by Martindale-Hubbell
  • โ€œSuperbโ€ rating on AVVO
  • Listed in Best Lawyers of America each year since 2012, an honor given to only 5% of attorneys
  • Named Elder Law โ€œLawyer of the Yearโ€ for 2018 by Best Lawyersยฎ
  • 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 โ€œLawyer of the Yearโ€ in Elder Law for Metropolitan DC in U.S. News and World Reportโ€™s โ€œBest Lawyers โ€“ 2015โ€ guide
  • Recipient of the โ€œLegal Assistance Distinguished Service Awardโ€ 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 NAELAโ€™s invitation-only Council of Advanced Practitioners
  • Past-President and the 2011 recipient of the โ€œOutstanding Memberโ€ 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 โ€œlaw reader.โ€ 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 NAMED TO 2020 “LEADERS IN THE LAW”

2024 SUPER LAWYERS NAMES 7 ML ATTORNEYS

AMERICA IS RAPIDLY AGING

ELDER LAW PODCAST

โ€œDO NOT HOSPITALIZEโ€ ORDERS

ELIZABETH GRAY NAMED TO TOP LAWYERS HALL OF FAME

ML ATTORNEYS NAMED โ€œTOP LAWYERSโ€ BY NORTHERN VIRGINIA MAGAZINE

ML ATTORNEYS RECOGNIZED BY BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICAยฎ 2025

NORTHERN VIRGINIA MAGAZINE NAMES 11 ML ATTORNEYS AMONG 2023 TOP LAWYERS

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

WASHINGTONIAN TOP FINANCIAL ADVISERS 2024

WASHINGTONIANโ€™S GUIDE TO RETIREMENT LIVING IN THE DC-AREA

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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