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 who dedicated her career 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 advocated for LGBTQ+ families with the National Center for LGBTQ+ Rights, where she championed inclusive policy and provided public education, technical assistance, and training on LGBTQ+ family law.

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

Prior to joining NCLR, Nesta ghostwrote complex Family Court filings and researched, briefed, and argued appeals as an attorney with the Children’s Law Center of New York, earning a perfect appellate record. 

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

In Nesta’s first role as a staff attorney with The Legal Aid Society’s Juvenile Rights Practice in Brooklyn, she represented over 700 children and young adults in Family Court matters.

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

Nesta believes that every person should be able to make decisions about their bodies and relationships, every family is entitled to recognition, respect, and justice, and every child deserves to be safe and loved.  Lived expertise with family conflict and as a foster care survivor inspired and informs her work.

Nesta is admitted 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

Nesta works with parents to reach sustainable solutions:

Child Custody Mediation

Healing-Centered · Motivational · Trauma-Informed


ABA Commission on Youth & Family Justice · Aug. 2025
PA State Coordinator · Nat. Assoc. of Counsel for Children Mental Health Advisory Council · Disability Rights PA
Parentage Act Observer · Uniform Law Commission

North Penn Legal Services 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’s Prior Works

Testimonials

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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."
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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