Meredith Cohen is the new management analyst at the Friend of the Court Bureau (FOCB). She is a proud Spartan, Wolverine, and Warrior! Meredith earned her Bachelor's degree in Social Work from Michigan State University in 2007, and her law degree from Wayne State University Law School in 2010. While in law school, Meredith clerked at the Michigan Children's Law Center defending children in delinquency proceedings and representing children as a lawyer-guardian ad litem. Meredith also held internships with both Judge Avern Cohn of the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, and Judge Judy Hartsfield in the Third Circuit Court of Michigan, Family Division – Juvenile Section.

Meredith went on to earn her Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan in 2011, in the practice method of Social Policy and Evaluation, and the practice area of Children and Youth in Families and Society. While pursuing her MSW, Meredith had the opportunity to assist in starting a specialty court docket called the Baby Court project, promoting stability and expedited reunification or permanency for our youngest children in foster care.

Meredith began her legal career as a staff attorney at the Detroit Center for Family Advocacy (CFA), where she worked to keep families together and advocated for children to be raised in stable, loving environments, surrounded by their attachment figures. At CFA, Meredith represented parents and other identified permanency providers, handling any type of legal issue that, when resolved, would prevent a child from entering foster care or expedite a child out of the foster care system. Within this practice, Meredith focused on the intersection between juvenile and domestic relations matters. 

Meredith is thrilled to be a part of the FOCB team. She is excited to explore new ways for the courts to provide holistic, innovative services, ensuring families are as strong, committed, and empowered as possible when working with the Friend of the Court. Outside of work, Meredith is on the council for the State Bar of Michigan’s Children’s Law Section, and loves spending time with her friends and family. You can contact Meredith at cohenm@courts.mi.gov.