PRO
Kathleen K Dong
Virtual Consultation Available
About Kathleen
Biography
Kathleen Dong graduated Lincoln Law School of San Jose and she clerked for various judicial officers including Hon. L. Michael Clark, Hon. Drew Takaichi, and Hon. Erica Yew while in law school.
In her spare time, Kathleen volunteers at Pro Bono Project of Silicon Valley for domestic violence victims as a volunteer attorney and Child Abuse Council of Santa Clara County as a commissioner.
Prior to becoming an attorney, Kathleen was a successful business owner of semiconductor and fiber optic distributorship for Asian market .
She holds a B.A. in Korean Literature from Kyung Hee University in Korea and J.D. from Lincoln Law School of San Jose. She is a member of Santa Clara County Bar Association and Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Silicon Valley.
Practice Areas
3
Practice Areas
Fees and Rates
Cost
Always
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
Awards
Licenses
Licensed in California for 10 years
State: California
Acquired: 2015
No misconduct found
Location
Law Office of Kathleen K. Dong
1100 Lincoln Avenue, Suite 366, San Jose, CA, 95125
dongfamilylaw.com/Gallery
Online Presence
Other places you can find Kathleen online.
Kathleen K Dong's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
13 Client Reviews
Showing 1 - 3 of 3 reviews | 1 star
Posted by anonymous | April 28, 2026 | Child Custody
An attorney with no compassion
She dismissed me in what I was explaining to her and trying to “help me understand CA law”. She said my case is something she could not help me with, which is fine. However what I do not appreciate in our consult was her comment “remember you decided to have kids with this guy”. Thank you Kathleen, s...
Kathleen Dong
Replied last April 29, 2026Dear Aryana, I am sorry you felt that way, and I apologize if I offended you. Each attorney has a different practice style, and I prefer to be honest with clients when I would be of no help. We discussed your requests in your recently filed motion, and I informed you that the outcome you sought may not be easy to obtain through litigation, as your request would take the case backward by reducing the other parent's timeshare without presenting reasons deemed valid under CA law. I personally do not feel it is fair for clients to simply assume that hiring an attorney would get them what they ask for. The court takes custody/visitation matters very delicately in a way where neither parent's rights are interfered with, unless there is clear proof that the other parent is abusing the children. In your case, you admitted that there was no abuse by the other spouse. I would also like to point out that, as an attorney providing a free consultation, I do not know whether a client will retain me. Regardless, I believe my duty is to help callers as much as possible understand where they are and whether their goal will be deemed reasonable in the eyes of the court. That was what I was trying to help you understand: CA law binds every litigant, and you must know it clearly. What I feel is unfortunate is your misunderstanding that my comment about your decision about the father of your children is not based on what I believe, but I told you that it would be the judge's perspective when you are trying to present negative traits of the other parent, especially when those traits are not something supported by CA law. I advised you multiple times that you need to understand the judge's perspective. Lastly, I agree with you wholeheartedly that coparenting is never easy. But one piece of good news is that you are not married to the other parent in this situation, so you do not have to worry about anything other than the children's issues. I am sorry you are going through these difficult times and wish you the best in your upcoming hearing. Thank you for taking the time to share your review. If there is anything my firm can do for you, please feel free to contact us. - Kathleen
Posted by anonymous | July 08, 2023 | Hired Attorney | Lawsuits & Disputes
Bad choice
Dong is good at making easy money. Dong has no time to review the documents and only sent threaten emails to other side. These behaviors only make things worse other than resolve the real issue. From the disputes she made, she can charge you a lot of fees for these useless arguments. This is the secr...
Kathleen Dong
Replied last July 08, 2023Dear Anonymous reviewer, I am sorry that you were not satisfied with the service of my firm. It would be helpful for you if you can reach out to us directly if there is anything we can help you. Unfortunately, I cannot recognize this case as you are not identifying yourself. Thank you for your time to review. Kathleen
Posted by anonymous | January 24, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Lawsuits & Disputes
Do yourself a favor and choose a different attorney...
I was looking for a lawyer last minute and went around for a few free consulations from different firms, Kathleen being one of them. I chose to go with her because she offered me the lowest cost, which now I understand why. She made herself sound like she had a lot of experience and knew what she was...
Kathleen Dong
Replied last January 24, 2018Dear Anonymous client, I am sorry to hear that your experience with our office was not very positive. Although your name was not disclosed, I do know about this case as your case was one of the very few cases that I allowed very low rates to be of help. Contrary to your statement, I made it very clear from the beginning that your case was very weak and you could not expect any good results other than doing best to avoid the worst result. Under California law, Attorneys cannot guarantee the outcome of the case and I have not promised you good results. I have made multiple recommendations to be able to mitigate your possible negative result. However, none of those recommendations were taken at all. Oftentimes, clients do not feel like what was advised by his/her attorney. But your attorney cannot achieve anything for you unless you actively follow the advice from your attorney, who was retained by you to protect your interest. Having that said, I appreciate your time to write this review as it will be a valuable asset for us in improving our services. I wish you the best in your case and please contact us if you need any assistance from our office. Thank you. Kathleen Dong
Kathleen K Dong's Lawyer Endorsements
"I endorse this lawyer. Kathleen is a conscientious and dedicated attorney. Kathleen seeks to resolve matters for her clients in a pragmatic way."
"I endorse this lawyer. I have observed Kathleen in the court room and in the office. She is a learned and responsive practitioner. She thinks fast on her feet and is assertive. I recommend her for DV and Family law matters."
"I endorse this lawyer."
Family lawyer
Real estate lawyer
Domestic violence lawyer
Family lawyer
Experience
Honors
2016
Susan O. Fish Award, Lincoln Law School of San Jose
2014
Outstanding Graduate, Lincoln Law School of San Jose
Work Experience
2015 - Present
Family Law Attorney, Owner, Law Offices of Kathleen K. Dong
2014 - 2014
Judicial Intern for the Honorable Drew C. Takaichi, Superior Court Of California, Santa Clara County
2013 - 2014
Judicial Intern for the Honorable L. Michael Clark, Superior Court Of California, Santa Clara County
2011 - 2011
Judicial Intern for the Honarable Erica R. Yew, Superior Court Of California, Santa Clara County
Associations
2017 - Present
Lincoln Law School of San JoseProfessor
2015 - Present
State Bar of CaliforniaMember
2015 - Present
Asian American Bar Association of Silicon ValleyMember
2015 - Present
Christian Family ResourceDirector
Chair
Education
2014
JD - Juris Doctor
1988
BA - Bachelor of Arts
Languages
Korean
English
Activity
Legal Answers