About Amber E. Willow, Senior Litigation Attorney
Amber Willow is an associate attorney at Cordell & Cordell whose practice focuses on family law. Ms. Willow entered family law out of a desire to help people through one of the most difficult times in their lives, and she believes that having a knowledgeable, skilled attorney by a client’s side can make a meaningful difference in their future.
Ms. Willow understands that retaining legal counsel is an investment — but she also recognizes that waiting to act can mean a harder road ahead, or even the loss of important rights altogether. That sense of urgency shapes her approach to every matter she handles. Whether a case is resolved through negotiated settlement or contested litigation, Ms. Willow is committed to pursuing the best possible outcome for each client she serves.
Licenses
Education & Certification
Law Clerk for Judge Samuel Thumma – August 2013 to April 2014
Sr. Law Clerk for Judge Downie (ret.) – May 2014 – November 2015
Phoenix School of Law – Juris Doctor – May 2013 – Graduated 2nd in my class (Top 1%), Summa Cum Laude, Order of the Quill. Editor-in-Chief of Phoenix Law Review 2012-2013. Sr. Technical Editor of Phoenix Law Review 2011-2012.
San Francisco State University – B.A. Anthropology – May 2004 – Dean’s List
Professional Experience
Ms. Willow practiced appellate and juvenile law for ten years. She served as a Judge Pro Tem and a juvenile law staff attorney at the Arizona Court of Appeals from May 2018 to March 2024.
For the remaining time through the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, she represented the Department of Child Safety on appeal and occasionally at the trial level and represented the Department of Economic Security on appeal. In the two years prior to joining Cordell & Cordell, Ms. Willow worked on child support and unemployment cases in addition to juvenile law cases. A lot of her work during these two years focused on paternity.
She briefed and argued the case Brenda D. v. Dep’t of Child Safety, 410 P.3d 419 (App. 2018) before the Arizona Supreme Court. That case resulted in an opinion defining parents due process rights when they appear late or fail to appear at certain court hearings.
Associations
Awards
Arizona Court of Appeals: Outstanding Customer Service Award 2022, Rock Solid Award 2021
Arizona Attorney General’s Office: Outstanding Team Award 2016-2017 and 2024-2025
