Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Lee.
Hi Amanda, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
If you asked me this question 2 years ago, the answer would have been very different. I would have told you the story of growing up in Maryland, attending Towson University, and earning my law degree from the University of Maryland Law (now called the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law). I would have shared how becoming a trial attorney was my dream and how I have lived that dream for the last 20 years. My career has included criminal prosecution with a focus on sex crimes and child abuse, and serving as counsel for Baltimore City Public Schools and now for the federal government. I am also the mother to three wonderful kids, divorced, active in the community through schools and sports, and I’ve served on advisory boards of various organizations.
Those facts remain true, but today, I share a more complete version of my story. The part I used to leave out is the part that allows others to truly understand me and it is the part that inspired me to start my consulting company, The Lee Consultants (TLC).
I married right out of law school and had my first child a year later. Within 5 years I had three children and was learning how to be an attorney simultaneously to learning how to be a mother. The balancing act was difficult, and the responsibilities were heavy, but the hardest part wasn’t the long hours or the workload. Instead, it was the reality that the person who was supposed to be my greatest source of support – my husband – was abusive. And I hid it from everyone.
While I appeared to have it all together, a thriving career and a beautiful loving family, I was living with constant fear and anxiety. I curated a happy public version of my life while internally struggling to make it through each day.
For years after my marriage ended, I refused to use the words “abuse” or “victim” and defaulted to saying my marriage ended simply because it wasn’t good. Soon after my divorce I became a part of an online group comprised of attorneys who are also single moms. Through this group, I learned that many of these attorneys had stories like mine – and these were attorneys from all over the nation, in various legal fields and roles. A voice inside me increasingly grew louder and finally I couldn’t ignore it; I’ve been quiet for too long. Maybe I can help; maybe I can create change.
In November of 2023, while at dinner with my mentor, I shared my desire to raise awareness about domestic violence – and I spilled my story without even realizing that I had not shared these personal facts beyond a select few friends and the women in my group. My intent of sharing was to explore ways I could follow my passion while I continue to advance my legal career. Her first reaction to my story was disbelief. She had no idea what I had been going through while I was working for her. But then, she asked me why I am not pursuing my passion full time. That thought had been buried deep in my mind, but without any idea where to begin, I never allowed myself to truly consider it. Hearing her speak those words was the spark that I needed. By the end of that dinner, I decided I was starting a business and pursuing my passion.
Starting a new business while raising three very busy kids on my own and working as a full time attorney is not easy. It’s been a slower process than I would have liked, but with a lot of hard work, it came together, and I officially launched in 2025.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The biggest struggle along my journey was living a dual life – being a victim of domestic violence while advancing my legal career. During the years I spent in an abusive marriage, raising young children, and handling intense demands as a trial attorney, I went to great lengths to maintain the appearance of a happy, healthy, and stable personal life. But internally, I was surviving on sleepless nights, constant fear, and hyper-vigilance, doing everything I could to protect myself and my children and keep personal reality separate from my professional world.
I was afraid of what disclosure might mean for my career and my professional reputation. I feared being seen as weak, emotionally unstable, or incapable of handling the rigor of litigation and meeting the expectation to provide valuable legal advice. The idea that my hard-earned reputation as a respected attorney could be jeopardized was unbearable – so I stayed quiet. But this was exhausting, isolating, and, overwhelming. Despite the success that I achieved, I was still limited in how far I could go while living in survival mode.
I have now been free from my abusive marriage for 8 years, but freedom does not erase the impact of abuse. The emotional and psychological toll lingers, and healing takes time. But, choosing to do the internal work has allowed me to grow personally and professionally.
Although there was a time I couldn’t imagine not practicing law, another path became clear when I realized that my struggles did not need to be in vain and I had another purpose. This realization became the catalyst for The Lee Consultants (TLC).
Although I do still practice law in the public sector and I intend on always maintaining my license, I do not provide any legal services at my consulting firm.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
After realizing that one reason I stayed in my abusive marriage for so long was the stigma that victimization carries in professional settings and the lack of targeted resources, I envisioned a world where corporate culture embodies acceptance and support to victims rather than shame. I wanted to create a place where high-achieving professionals could access the support they needed – both personally and professionally. This vision led me to create The Lee Consultants (TLC) — a consulting firm dedicated to transforming how domestic violence is understood and addressed in professional settings, and to offer unique and tailored services to victims.
To achieve the goal of raising awareness and helping organizations foster more supportive workplaces I offer specialized training and consulting. The training equips attendees with the knowledge and tools needed to create an environment that provides support and safety to colleagues experiencing abuse by an intimate partner. And the consulting services include reviewing and enhancing company policies and practices and integrating individualized support options into employees’ benefits packages.
I am especially passionate about this work not only for personal reasons, but because, as far as I know, a firm like this does not exist. Acknowledging that professionals can endure domestic violence is still a taboo topic. Many people assume that money, education, or status offer protection, but it doesn’t. My goal is to ultimately change workplace culture so that no one has to suffer in silence.
Traditionally, domestic violence training has been directed toward victim advocates, first responders, prosecutors, and non-profit organizations – people who serve victims. While those trainings are vital, they rarely, if at all, address the fact that domestic violence knowledge and awareness should not be limited to those who directly support victims through their work. Instead, my target audience is leaders, executives, and professionals in all fields and particularly in organizations that are outside of victim-focused industries – places where domestic violence is not discussed. The lack of acknowledgement that colleagues may experience domestic violence is the foundation for the shame and stigma that I am striving to eliminate.
I also provide direct support to individuals who are seeking to leave their abusive relationships. My one-on-one services include safety and escape planning, life coaching, and personalized consulting to connect clients with vetted experts and service providers. A person who is trying to leave an abusive relationship while managing a demanding career faces unique and often complex challenges – and I am there to walk with them through every step toward safety and healing.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
The easy answer is my kids. Like most parents, they are at the center of everything I do. But, beyond them, what truly matters to me in this moment of life is authenticity. For years, I filtered my life and kept a wall between myself and the world and lived for others, not myself. This was a result of being in survival mode. That way of living kept me from discovering who I was, pursuing my passions, and forming deep, meaningful relationships. Now that I have embraced my story, am open about it, and invested in my healing, I value genuine connections, honest conversations, and being true to myself and accepting others as their true self.
Choosing to value authenticity – which means admitting my struggles and faults, hasn’t diminished my strength or professionalism, in fact, it has enhanced it. I am more compassionate, less anxious, and more open to being vulnerable, which has made me a better leader and colleague, but more importantly it has made me a better mom, partner, and friend.
Living in survival mode prevented me from embracing the moment – I was rarely able to be fully present in any moment because I was always trying to anticipate what would happen next and how I needed to prepare. But now, I can be present and do, feel, and experience what I want and need. This is liberating and is a feeling that I believe many survivors don’t realize they are missing until they feel it for the first time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theleeconsultants.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-lee-c
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@amandalee.tlc
