Nesta N. Johnson, Esq.

Advocate. Author. Educator. 

Image of Nesta N. Johnson Rose taken May 2024, Detroit. Depicts a female-presenting person with short curly black hair and brown skin, smiling. Nesta is wearing a cameo necklace, an aqua blouse, and a fuchsia wrap against a dark blue-grey background.

Nesta (she/her) is an attorney, teacher, and survivor whose work is dedicated to children and families.
She earned a B.A. in Philosophy at Stony Brook and a J.D. at George Washington University Law School. 

Nesta is a seasoned speaker, trainer, and facilitator who has delivered impactful training to professionals and the public nationwide.

She advocated for queer people and families with the National Center for LGBTQ+ Rights, fighting for inclusive policy and providing technical assistance, training, and education on LGBTQ+ family law.

Nesta’s writing has appeared in scholarly journals and the media.

She ghostwrote complex Family Court filings and handled family law appeals as a writing attorney with the Children’s Law Center of New York, earning a perfect appellate record. 

Nesta helped many families find solutions that minimized the length, expense, and trauma of Family Court involvement.

She represented over 700 children and young adults in Brooklyn Family Court as a Legal Aid attorney.

Nesta believes that every family deserves justice, and that every child deserves to be safe and loved.
Lived expertise informs her work.

Nesta delivers training nationwide. She is licensed to practice law in New York and Pennsylvania.

Services

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Training

Nesta provides interactive training in person and online:

  • LGBTQ+ Family Law: Issues & Landscape

  • LGBTQ+ Family-Building & Parentage

  • Representing LGBTQ+ Youth & Parents

  • Representing Children in Family Court

  • Preventive & Holistic Representation

  • Cultural Competence, Humility & Allyship

  • Working with Expert Witnesses

  • Family Court Litigation & Drafting Skills

  • Child-Centered Dispute Resolution

  • …and more!

Find Nesta’s prior presentations below.

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Advocacy

Child Custody Mediation

Future-Focused · Motivational · Trauma-Informed ___________________________________________________________

Case Strategy
Expert Testimony

ABA Commission on Youth & Family Justice
PA State Coordinator · Nat’l Assoc. of Counsel for Children Mental Health Advisory Council · Disability Rights PA
Parentage Act Observer · Uniform Law Commission

North Penn Legal Services NEPA Community Justice Alliance

PLEASE NOTE: We cannot endorse or vouch for any attorney, or guarantee the accuracy of information posted on linked sites.

Nesta is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania & New York State.

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Writing

Nesta researches, [ghost]writes, and edits:

  • Scholarly articles

  • Law & policy blogs

  • Email & Substack newsletters

  • White papers & policy briefs

  • Factsheets & Explainers

  • Skeleton op-eds & “Dear Reps”

  • Slide decks & speaker notes

  • Program descriptions for grants

  • Funder & donor-facing content

  • …and more!

Find Nesta’s prior publications below.

Nesta N. Johnson Rose stands before a multicolored sign which reads "Reproductive Justice Futurisms, March 12-14 2025" and includes a black-and-white logo depicting a young woman of color. Nesta has shoulder-length curly black hair and tan skin. She
Nesta N. Johnson Rose is standing with six other speakers onstage. Fabric draped over a podium and a banner hanging from a rear balcony depict the Pennsylvania Bar Association's name and logo. A large screen depicts a slide show entitled "The Past, P
Nesta N. Johnson Rose and four other people sit at a table with microphones, name cards, and laptops. Everyone is smiling. Nesta's hair is short; she is wearing glasses, a white blouse, and a dark grey shawl. Photo taken at Lavender Law Conference 20
Nesta N. Johnson Rose and one other person sit at a table with microphones and name cards. Both people are laughing. Nesta's hair is up; she is wearing glasses, a salmon-pink blouse, and a grey pinstriped blazer. Photo taken at Lavender Law Conferenc

Nesta’s Prior Works

Testimonials

Greyscale image of four diverse elementary-aged children sitting on a bench, smiling and apparently talking.
Image of text: Endorsement by Maria Roumiantseva of the National Center for a Civil Right to Counsel. "Nesta is unparalleled in building trust and relationships."
Nesta N. Johnson Rose and her co-presenter pose holding up their badge. Nesta's co-presenter is wearing a dark fuchsia head wrap/shawl and black top. Nesta is wearing a dark-colored top and has short hair. Photograph taken at the National Association
Image shows a large screen showing a presentation slide entitled "Bi+ and Trans" containing statistics and charts. Nesta N. Johnson Rose is standing to the right, speaking. She is holding a remote control and wearing glasses and a colorful cardigan.
Nesta N. Johnson Rose and her co-presenter stand on either side of a sign which reads "2024 Equal Justice Conference, Detroit Michigan" and features an image of the Detroit city line over water. Nesta is wearing a fuchsia wrap, an aqua blouse with a
Depicts four co-panelists at the Creating Change conference, wearing conference badges attired in Bi+ flag colors. Nesta N. Johnson Rose is wearing glasses, a multicolored cardigan, black blouse and lavender corduroy pants.

Contact

Interested in booking Nesta
as an educator, mediator,
or author?

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Drop your info in the box.

We’ll be in touch soon.

Can’t wait to hear from you!

🌹

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