A Philadelphia family lawyer has been tapped to lead the national LGBT Family Law Institute.

Tiffany Palmer, a founding partner at Jerner & Palmer, is the newest director of the institute, the Washington, D.C.-based organization announced Tuesday. She has agreed to hold the position for two years, she said, taking over for Portland, Maine, lawyer Zack Paakkonen.

The institute is a joint venture of the National LGBT Bar Association and the National Center for Lesbian Rights. It was formed in 2009 as a networking platform for family lawyers who focus on LGBT issues.