Family Law Attorney

Percy Towers • Plattsburgh, NY

33d • Hybrid

About The Position

A seasoned and established Matrimonial and Family Law firm seeks to hire an attorney to sit in their flagship Plattsburgh-area office, serving the greater Upper New York State community as an unbiased and effective mediator, legal counsel, and family law advisor for the firm which is led by a Certified Divorce Specialist® who is known for combining trauma-informed, child-centered counsel with practical problem-solving and decisive courtroom advocacy. The practice does not mistake unnecessary conflict for effective representation. This is a role for an attorney who wants genuine ownership, as the firm is very busy and requires an attorney ready to take on a full caseload and be involved immediately in litigations, mediations and trials. The hired attorney will have the immense benefit of being able to work alongside and learn from some of the best family law attorneys in the state of New York, almost certainly the best in the Greater Adirondack Region. You will not be just a supporting player here, you will come in immediately into a lead role with this firm: You will lead matters, set strategy, and remain accountable for progress on cases that carry real consequences for clients and their children. Attorneys who know thrive in litigation, are adept at negotiation and meeting adversary parties at a middle-ground are desired. Prior experience in family law and matrimonial matters is helpful, but not required for this opportunity. Solely the desire to dedicate a practice to the area of family law will suffice, and one will make great gains to that end if chosen for this opportunity.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
• Admission to the New York State Bar and current good standing.
• At least two years of substantive litigation experience, preferably in a family law or matrimonial practice setting.
• Working knowledge of New York matrimonial and family-law statutes, procedure, local rules, and courtroom practice.
• Demonstrated legal research, analysis, writing, negotiation, and oral advocacy ability.
• Ability to manage a substantive caseload, competing deadlines, clear client communication, and contemporaneous time records.
• Ethics, discretion, accountability, and respect toward clients, colleagues, and opposing counsel.
• The firm has not published a billable requirement; the typical expectation for this type of role is approximately 1,850 hours annually.
• Candidates must be prepared to submit, at minimum, law school transcripts.

Nice To Haves

• Mediation certification
• Collaborative-law training
• Experience in criminal law, domestic violence, child protection, special-victims matters, or other relevant litigation.

Responsibilities

• Manage assigned divorce and family-law matters from initial assessment through negotiated resolution, mediation, hearing, or trial.
• Develop case strategy around client goals, governing law, evidence, risk, cost, and long-term family realities.
• Handle divorce, custody, child support, spousal maintenance, equitable distribution, family-offense, and related proceedings, consistent with your experience level.
• Draft persuasive pleadings, motions, discovery, agreements, orders, judgments, and client communications.
• Represent clients in negotiations, mediations, conferences, hearings, and trials with command of the facts and the record.
• Counsel clients candidly and compassionately, including when the right advice is difficult or differs from a client's initial position.

Benefits

• Generous monthly performance-based incentives controlled by a billable hour expectation of 30 hours per week
• Great healthcare coverage through Bluecross Blueshield
• Paid Time Off
• Other discretionary compensation

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level