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Dorothea Elaine Laster

Family Attorney at Arlington, TX

4.8   51 reviews
Virtual consultation available
Virtual consultation available
  • Licensed for 32 years
    State TX
    Acquired 1991
    Status
    Eligible to Practice in Texas No misconduct found

We have not found any instances of professional misconduct for this lawyer.

About Dorothea

Learn Dorothea’s areas of practice.

3
Practice areas
  1. Family
    60%
    Dorothea Laster has over twenty years of Family Law experience zealously representing clients in Dallas, Denton, Fort Worth and McKinney, Texas. Services include: • Divorce; • Custody; • Child Support; • Termination and Adoption; • CPS Defense; • Motions for New Trial and Appeals

    31 years

  2. Litigation
    30%
    • Motions for New Trial and Appeals; • Breach of Contract; • Collections and Registration of Foreign Judgments; • Texas Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act Cases; • Adversary Proceedings in Bankruptcy Court; •. Employment Litigation.

    31 years

  3. Appeals
    10%

    19 years

PROVIDING FAMILY LAW, COMMERCIAL LAW, POST-JUDGMENT AND APPELLATE REPRESENTATION IN DFW SINCE 1991.

Attorney Dorothea Laster, B.S., J.D., LL.M. is an aggressive and effective litigator, and is hard-working and zealous in the pursuit of her client's goals. She has extensive experience filing and prosecuting employment discrimination cases in the Northern, Eastern and Southern District of Texas, and has several years of experience in personal injury and insurance defense. She excels at taking depositions and in motion practice.

Ms. Laster's primary practice area for the last thirty years has been Family Law, which she has practiced in Collin, Dallas, Denton and Tarrant Counties. Her work includes Divorce, Custody, Adoptions, Grandparents Rights, Terminations of Parental Rights, and CPS Defense. She enjoys filing Motions for New Trial and Appeals, and is especially proud of the appellate work she has done in n the Interest of L.S., 2017 Tex. App. LEXIS 8963, and In the Interest of N.L.T., 420 S.W.3d 469, 2014 Tex. App. LEXIS 494, 2014 WL 130552.

Ms. Laster attended the University of Nebraska and obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science in 1988. She was a Patricia-Harris Fellow at the University of Nebraska-College of Law, graduating with Distinction in 1991. Ms. Laster attended the University of Notre Dame’s London, England Campus and earned her LL.M. Degree in International Law in 1993, graduating Cum Laude. Ms. Laster is a trained mediator, having earned her mediator certification in 2011 from the Texas Woman's University. Ms. Laster also earned her certificate as a Family Law Mediator in 2017 from Dispute Mediation Services of North Texas, and has completed the additional Family Violence Mediator requirements.

Ms. Laster volunteered with Fathers for Equal Rights, , for approximately a decade and has answered over seventeen thousand legal questions for educational purpose on www.AVVO.com to date.

Ms. Laster also served for seven years in the Signal and Adjutant General Corps in the Nebraska Army National Guard and the Tennessee Army Reserves beginning in 1982.  Ms. Laster earned a commission as a Reserve Army Officer in 1987. 

Ms. Laster can be reached at, ,

Awards

Silver Client Champion
Client's Choice 2022,2018,2017,2014
Client's Choice
2022 2018 2017 + 1 ...
Top Contributor 2021,2020,2019,2018,2017,2016,2015,2014
Top Contributor
2021 2020 2019 + 5 ...

Contact Dorothea

Dorothea Laster
Hopkins-Laster Law Office
2114 Valleycrest Drive
Arlington, TX, 76013

Reviews

4.8 / 5.0
  51 customer reviews
5 Star
 
96%
4 Star
 
0%
3 Star
 
0%
2 Star
 
0%
1 Star
 
4%
Client's Choice 2022
Client's Choice
Client's Choice is an Avvo award granted to attorneys with a significant number of client reviews over 4 stars in a given year.
Posted by anonymous | February 17, 2014
Top notch experienced attorney!
Mrs. Dorothea Elaine Laster is an excellent attorney! This is the first review that I have ever written for an attorney and I have ONLY great things to say. Mrs. Laster is TRUSTWORTHY, ETHICAL, RESPONSIVE (don't be surprised if your emails are responded to within 30 minutes at any given time of the day I.e. 2 am), KNOWLEDGEABLE, INFORMATIVE and very UNDERSTANDING (as every case is unique). In my experience with Mrs. Laster, I never felt that she was just 'taking my money' and not providing excellent service in return. She has been practicing law for a very long time and I value her wisdom from many years of experience. Call her for a consultation and see for yourself!
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Posted by anonymous | March 3, 2014
Knowledgeable, meticulous and highly conscientious, an excellent attorney
Ms. Laster has represented me since 2010 in various complex matters in both district and federal courts. She has consistently shown exemplary professionalism, focus and knowledge of the law, and an impressive mastery of detail in a complicated case. Throughout our association I've found her to be dependable, trustworthy, good-humored, communicative, responsive, fair, dedicated to the task at hand, and a font of excellent advice. I would recommend her without hesitation or reservation.
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Posted by Linda | December 19, 2022
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Psychotherapist
She is extremely professional, knowledgeable, focused and detailed orientated. She was also accessible with "no nonsense" persona. She creates a sense of strength and confidence.
Response from Dorothea Laster December 19, 2022
Thank you. That is sweet.
Posted by Sarah | November 29, 2022
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Wouldn’t trust anyone else!
Dorothea is the best lawyer I have ever worked with. She was recommended to me by my father who also was going through a custody battle and divorce. Dorothea helped me every step of the way and the outcome was better than I expected. I am thankful for her and will continue to use her in the future!
Response from Dorothea Laster November 30, 2022
Thank you so much. Stay safe. Let me know if I can help in the future.
Posted by Leonard | November 11, 2022
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
| Consulted Attorney
Thank you for your work
She aided me to solve the problem that I raised and I'm happy with that. Thank you.
Response from Dorothea Laster November 30, 2022
Thank you. Glad I could be of help.
Posted by Sandra | November 10, 2022
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Custody family Issue
Mrs. Dorothea Elaine Laster helped me and my family with a custody issue. She was very specific and informative along the way. She’s very direct and do what she says she’s going to do. I will very much use her again if needed.
Response from Dorothea Laster November 10, 2022
Thank you very much for your review. I am glad it worked out!
Posted by anonymous | November 6, 2022
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Civil Suit to Retain Personal Property
Dorothea was successful in presenting my case which ultimately made my ex pay off an asset that I was financially responsible for. She did a good job explaining what my options were and made sure I understood the choice was mine on how I moved forward with my case and she would do what I ask. It's unfortunate that I was in a situation to need legal counsel but I'm glad I had her to represent me.
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Response from Dorothea Laster November 7, 2022
Thank you so much for the review! I'm glad it worked out.
Posted by anonymous | March 3, 2022
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Susan varghese
I can not even express how grateful I feel after working with Ms. Laster. Only by the Grace of God and with my lawyer’s proficiency, I was able to get the divorce within 3 months. After this big experience in life, I understand that a lawyer with passion, knowledge, experience, and persuasive communication can make your life so easy and you will definitely get the result which is more than what you expect. She was so affordable and She even advised me how I can make the expenses lower. Where as my ex had to give up on his lawyer due to the high cost which was not at all affordable. You can rely on Ms Laster and I never had to wait for her reply. She was available any time of the day or night and intact I was surprised to see her messages even after midnight. I highly recommend this Lawyer to anyone who is around DFW area. Thank You.
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Posted by Nat Parsons | March 3, 2022
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Attorney Dorothea- Family Custody
Dorothea has provided excellent representation to me during the difficult process of custody enforcement. She was able to quickly resolve my issues and helped me maintain the most important thing to me, time with my daughter. I was facing false allegations and my ex took custody time away from me during the holidays against court orders. We were able to restore the time lost and make some improvements to the custody agreement in the process. I highly recommend Dorothea.
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Posted by Pam | June 10, 2021
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Dedicated, Hardworking and Overall Amazing Attorney
Hiring Ms. Laster was really one of the best decisions I have made in 15 years. She knows the law better than any attorney I have ever worked with and can translate that into results. She is always available and works anytime my case needed her while never missing a deadline. I had a very complicated case and I know I couldn't have had anyone better in my corner then Dorothea. I will ALWAYS recommend her to anyone who crosses my path that needs a family attorney. She is a tough cookie and any attorney that is up against her should watch out! Thank you Dorothea for everything you did for my family!
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Response from Dorothea Laster June 14, 2021
Thank you so much for trusting me with your case and allowing me to serve you and your family. Your case was complicated and successfully working with you through each unique wrinkle and challenge, twist and turn has made me a better attorney for the effort. Best wishes for the future. Dorothea
Posted by Steve | April 20, 2021
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Divorce
Very specific on details and Thorough through out the process. Would highly recommend Dorothea to others.very dedicated to her work.
Posted by Anonymous | November 10, 2019
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
| Consulted Attorney
Best consultation ever
Dorothy took the weekend to the time out of her weekend and mornings to help us deal properly with our Safety plan agreements. She helped shed light on issues we didn't understand or needed clarity. She is awesome and we will forever be grateful
Posted by Corey | April 23, 2019
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Family Law Lawyer
Ms. Laster is a very professional lawyer and made my first experience with family law court an good and very comfortable experience. It was a pleasure to deal with and if I have any other issue she will be my first choice, thanks again.
Response from Dorothea Laster May 3, 2019
Thank you. I'm glad we were ready for whatever happened, and that it turned out well.
Posted by Christina | February 20, 2019
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Dorthea gets the job done!!!
Dorthea’s strengths happened to be the ones I really needed in my case! I acquired her help one day before our protective order hearing, giving her very little time to prepare or get to know me! It was stressful for both of us. She can come across harsh, but she gets right to the point and is not interested in wasting your time and money! She was very responsive, quick and knew exactly what she wanted from me. Dorthea immediately knew the judges and other lawyer on my case and that was comforting! She knows Texas family law well and seems to have a very well-rounded knowledge, in several other areas of law! She’s seasoned and experienced and comes across in the courtroom as “no-nonsense” and tenacious, but still seems to be well respected. She will go to bat for you and leave the other parties wondering what to say! I loved this about her! She may put up a hard front, but once you get to know her better you can see that she has empathy and warmth and she really does care about your case! She also has a sense of humor. She actually went out of her way and offered to drive me to the airport and even tried to give me food $. I felt like I’d made a friend, who cared, not just hired a lawyer! I would highly recommend her, especially if you want results fast and if you don’t take things personally when she pushes you to do what’s necessary for your case!
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Response from Dorothea Laster February 21, 2019
I'm still laughing about you including my wanting to make sure you had food money for your return. You are going to blow my tough gal image. Oh that's just the best. Thank you for your review and for trusting me with your case.
Posted by SAS | February 12, 2019
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
A Real Attorney Honorable, pragmatic and strategic counsel
I titled my review, A REAL Attorney vs all the others, because I achieved successful results for my case and it was Ms. Laster and myself vs four other attorneys. When you are dealing with this many lawyers you have to cut through the nonsense, smokescreens, inaccurate interpretations of the law and other tactics employed by attorneys. Do not pass this lawyer up as you are getting the best representation possible, but you have to help and support Ms. Laster to get the best results possible. The Discovery process is the most difficult, it is time consuming and anything related to your case has to be produced to the opposition. Meeting your deadlines and attending the hearings at the courthouse is critical. The legal process is an adventure, from start to finish your case will take many twists and turns and you will never know what will happen, with solid, smart and witty counsel Ms. Laster will do whatever possible to get you where you need to go, the right direction. After being disillusioned, tricked and manipulated by less than honest lawyers, Ms. Laster balanced it all out for me, she used the the law to bring fairness and justice to my life. Thank you Hopkins Laster Law Office for all you have done! You truly are the best at what you do.
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Response from Dorothea Laster February 12, 2019
Thank you for your review and for trusting me with your case. It was hard work (for both of us) but it was worth it. I’m so glad we were able to get you the positive result you deserved! Best wishes
Posted by Amber | December 7, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Custody
Dorthea Laster did a fantastic job of representing myself and my children! She fought hard for all of the things that were important to me and was alawys upfront about anything needed!
Response from Dorothea Laster December 8, 2018
Thank you!!
Posted by anonymous | July 7, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Wonderful !
Ms. Laster was outstanding help, she was reliable and dedicated to making sure I got exactly what I was fighting for! I was very grateful to have her on my side!
Posted by KT | June 26, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
Very knowledgeable
Explained in detail the steps necessary to resolve my case. Worked diligently to get acceptable outcome. Knows Family Law very well.
Posted by anonymous | May 11, 2018
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
The BEST decision was choosing her to represent me
Where do I even begin? I contacted Ms. Laster back in February and had a phone consultation with her regarding my case. I had probably 20 consultations in several weeks with many child custody attorneys in DFW---most of them charged me for the phone consultation. I lived out of state. Some didn't want anything to do with my case. Others said I was pretty much at a loss and could never win or had a very slim chance of winning and getting my kids back in my home. The rest wanted a massive retainer put down before they would start on my case without even giving me details on the options I have. Ms. Laster handled a lot of the research on my case before I even hired her! She was able to pull up documents, etc. and was already on a roll and had several plans in place to approach my issue. I ended up officially hiring her in March. There was something in my gut that kept telling me she was the one. And she was! Her retainer is reasonable. I like the way she bills. You pay the retainer and as you file petitions/motions/service, you pay as you go. You may have to re-up your retainer as well. This worked for me vs. paying such a large lump sum down. Ms. Laster has a VERY strong attitude. You just have to be able to handle it because that is the person you want representing you in the court room. I was in an extremely emotional state and I needed her to set me straight. I can see how others (based on some reviews I read) may feel offended. But let me put it this way---it is like the kind of tough love you need during such a difficult time. She means no harm. She wants to properly present your case and WIN! TRUST ME! She was tactful in her navigation of my case, slamming the opposing counsel on every possible angle. I love that she maintained professionalism & composure AT ALL TIMES-although the other side was acting a fool---I am glad I didn't have a clown representing me and was very proud and confident about how she handled herself in the court room. We went through two hearings and she won BOTH of the hearings. I seriously walked away with what I wanted both times...this is all after being extremely discouraged from my other consultations. The opposing counsel was dragging the case out and Ms. Laster was on them all the time, requesting action. She copies me in all emails and I am always updated with what is going on. She gave me reasonable suggestions in my settlement proposal/offer but was not going to settle for less from the other party. When she asks for documents/info, send them ASAP. The quicker you send, the faster she can build your case. She works very hard. She was ALWAYS available when I needed her via email or phone. She does the majority of the work herself-no paralegal. However, she does have an assistant, Tanisha, who is absolutely fantastic. Both of them will keep it real with you which is exactly what you need. You don't want someone buttering you up for failure. Ms. Laster takes her time and is very, VERY detail oriented. While I was frantic and anxious the entire time, she was very reasonably calm. We ended up making an offer to the other party at the second hearing, as Ms. Laster was trying to avoid going into a final trial---all to save me money. The opposing counsel attempted to delay but in the end accepted the offer. Ms. Laster was always considerate of my finances and tried to save me money in every way possible. She is not there just to collect your paycheck. She told the opposing counsel that she would rather settle sooner than later, as she does not want to continue racking up my expenses. I really appreciated that about her. In conclusion, I never wish anyone would need to hire an attorney again. But, if you need one, do yourself a huge favor and hire her, give her the driver seat, buckle up and prepare for the bumpy ride! I hope I will not need representation again in the future but I know exactly who I am going to call!
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Response from Dorothea Laster May 12, 2018
LOL. "A very strong attitude." I love it!!! Thank you so much. I'm really glad we were able to get a good result for you and your kiddos. It makes me happy.
Posted by Aaliyah Davis | March 13, 2018
This review is from a potential client who consulted with this attorney.
| Consulted Attorney
Greatest Help
She helped me with the exact legal documents that I needed, and gave me great advice to help represent myself. I highly recommend her.
Response from Dorothea Laster March 13, 2018
Thank you my Dear and Good Luck!!
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Cost

Rates
  • Hourly Rates $ 400-450 per hour
  • Retainer Always
Payment methods
Check, Credit Card

Resume

AVVO RATING 8.8 (Excellent)

Work Experience

  • Owner/Attorney
  • Hopkins-Laster Law Office
  • 1993 - Present
  • Litigation Associate
  • Jackson and Walker
  • 1992 - 1993

Education

  • Dispute Resolution Services of North Texas
  • Family Law Mediator
  • 2017
  • Texas Woman's University
  • 40 Hour Mediation Course
  • 2011
  • Notre Dame Law School
  • LL.M - Master of Laws
  • 1993
  • University of Nebraska College of Law
  • Doctor of Jurisprudence/Juris Doctor (J.D.)
  • 1991
  • University of Nebraska
  • BS - Bachelor of Science
  • 1988
View all education

Legal Cases

  • In the Interest of L.S., 2017 Tex. App. LEXIS 8963
  • Reversed on appeal
  • Laster v. Thomas, No. 05-15-00253-CV, 2016 Tex. App. LEXIS 3526 (Tex. App..--Dallas Apr. 6, 2016, no pet. h. )
  • Dismissed, but established the right of court appointed attorneys in parental termination cases to appeal the nonpayment of their attorney's fees to the Administrative Judge pursuant to Section 26.05 of the Texas Criminal Code
  • In Re N.L.T, A Child, 011514 TXCA5, 05-13-00692-CV, 420 S.W.3d 469 (Tex. App. --Dallas 2014)
  • Trial Court Judgment was Reversed and Remanded by the Fifth Dallas Court of Appeals. Appeal was succesful based upon the facts of client's case. Client won a new trial.
View all legal cases

Associations

  • State Bar of Texas
  • Licensed Attorney
  • 1991 - Present
  • Dallas County Black Chamber of Commerce
  • Member
  • 2018 - 2022
  • National Association of Professional Women
  • Member
  • 2014 - 2015
  • National Association of Counsel for Children
  • Member
  • 2014 - 2015
View all associations

Languages Spoken

  • English

Honors and Awards

  • Client Champion Award
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2023
  • Client Champion Award
  • Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2021
  • Pro Bono Attorney Award
  • Legal Services of North Texas
  • 1993
  • Patricia-Harris Fellowship
  • University of Nebraska College of Law
  • 1991
View all awards

Speaking Engagements

  • Education for Pro Se Litigants
  • Preparation of Documents
  • 2018

Attorney endorsements

Received (78)
Given (63)
Endorse Dorothea
Family Attorney | Nov 04
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Attorney Dorothea Laster is an advocate who perseveres. She is quick to spot issues (from the problematic to the inconsequential) and meticulously protects the rights of her clients. In the Interest of L.S., an appellate case out of Denton, is just one of many examples of how an attorney succeeds with hard work and a clear passion for the rule of law."
Family Attorney | Jan 20
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. Attorney Laster provides a much needed service on Avvo. She donates her time to individuals who are in need of immediately legal answers."
Family Attorney | Jan 11
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Attorney Dorothea Laster is insightful, thorough, knowledgeable, and kind."
Family Attorney | Nov 16
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Ms. Laster is an excellent, valuable contributor to this forum. I endorse her."
Family Attorney | Oct 19
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
Litigation Attorney | Apr 09
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer. She is well respected by fellow lawyers and freely gives of her time to answer the public's questions free of charge which is tremendous."
Family Attorney | Mar 26
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Ms. Laster is a highly skilled, diligent and knowledgeable attorney who is well-known in the legal community for her outstanding professionalism. She was able to obtain satisfactory results even for clients whose cases were incredibly difficult by dedicating her time and effort to achieve the best results. I certainly endorse this lawyer and have no doubt she will be of great help to anyone seeking legal advice or representation within her main areas of practice."
Family Attorney | Mar 22
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Dorothea is an excellent attorney committed to providing the highest quality representation to clients. I endorse this attorney without reservation."
Family Attorney | Mar 11
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Dorothea is a top-notch family law attorney. I recommend her without reservation."
Family Attorney | Feb 16
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Ms. Laster spends the time and effort to provide well though out opinions and suggestions. Her knowledge of the law is impressive, as is her willingness to offer guidance."
Unknown Attorney | Feb 08
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I have not had the opportunity to work with Ms. Laster, but based on her responses to questions on Avvo I can confidently say that she has extensive knowledge of Texas family law and she is passionate about protecting the rights of parents and their children."
Family Attorney | Jan 26
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I wholeheartedly endorse this lawyer. Attorney Dorothea is a well-regarded and driven attorney who has provided exceptional legal representation to numerous clients throughout the U.S. With her extensive knowledge, broad experience and impressive professional skills, she is bound to invest her time and energy into achieving the best outcome for each case, regardless of its level of complexity."
Family Attorney | Jan 17
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer."
Family Attorney | Mar 02
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Ms. Laster continuously displays one of the most important traits that clients need: patience. Together with her empathy and ability to explain complex matters to her clients, I endorse this attorney."
Family Attorney | Feb 14
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Excellent family law attorney, I endorse this lawyer."
Family Attorney | Jan 04
Relationship: Worked together on matter
"I have worked with Dorothea on prior cases and found her to be an aggressive advocate for her clients. I would highly recommend her to handle your family law matter."
Family Attorney | Dec 06
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse this lawyer, because of her keen insight, and the wise advice that she provides."
Family Attorney | Nov 18
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"Top of the line family attorney."
Family Attorney | Aug 17
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"I endorse Mrs. Laster She is a truly asset to our legal community. Very helpful on AVVO and a great expert in the field."
Unknown Attorney | May 07
Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community
"One of the absolute best. Exceptional attention to detail, service next to none. I endorse this lawyer."
View more endorsements
Arlington Family Lawyer Dorothea Elaine Laster
Dorothea Elaine Laster
Family Attorney
Arlington, TX
Licensed for 32 years
Virtual consultation available