Katherine (Katie) Mullen, Esq.

About Katie

Katie's path to elder law wasn't paved by a single defining moment, but was instead shaped over more than a decade of public service, policy work, and personal experience with aging in her own family.

A Foundation in Public Service

Before practicing law, Katie spent 11 years working at the intersection of government and healthcare policy in Maryland. As Legislative Director for Montgomery County's District 19, home to Leisure World and other retirement communities like Hampshire Village and Homecrest House, Katie led the legislative initiatives in the offices of Senator Roger Manno and Delegate Marice Morales. In that role, she worked directly with senior constituents on issues ranging from long-term care and healthcare decision-making to death with dignity, ensuring the office remained open, available, and responsive to every constituent, regardless of political affiliation.

Katie then went on to serve as a health policy analyst at the Maryland Department of Health's Office of Health Care Quality (OHCQ), which licenses and regulates health care providers across 47 industries, including nursing homes, hospitals, assisted living facilities, and residential service agencies. Her time at OHCQ gave her an unfiltered view into the real quality of care seniors receive, and it made clear the need for dedicated legal advocacy on their behalf. It was here that elder law became more than a career path; it became her calling.

A Personal Connection

Katie's commitment to this work is personal as well as professional. The granddaughter and daughter of nurses, she was raised with a deep respect for accessible healthcare and for treating others with compassion, dignity, and respect. She watched two grandparents in Ohio, one a World War II Army nurse, and the other a draftsman who raised six children in Dayton, move from independent living into assisted living and long-term care, including memory care for Alzheimer's. Supporting her own parents through their own journeys further shaped the advocate she is today.

Empowerment in Practice

For Katie, empowerment is rooted in a feminist and social justice framework: power with clients, not power over them. She believes empowerment means self-determination and autonomy, and the confidence to trust that you know what's best for your own life. In practice, that means listening closely, creating a non-judgmental space, and meeting each client where they are, always starting from the question: How can I help you? What do you need?

Outside the Office

When she's not practicing law, Katie can be found browsing the shelves of independent bookstores for her next read, trying new restaurants with her husband, and practicing yoga.