Senior Lawyer

WhitsonLaw•Albany, NY

About The Position

WhitsonLaw, PLLC, is seeking an experienced Senior Family Law Attorney to join our growing New York practice. This opportunity is ideal for a confident, compassionate, and highly capable attorney who can independently manage a substantial caseload while providing thoughtful, strategic, and zealous representation for clients navigating complex family law matters. Our firm is dedicated exclusively to matrimonial and family law, and we are committed to guiding clients through difficult transitions with professionalism, clarity, and strong advocacy. The attorney who joins our team will play an important role in delivering excellent legal representation while also helping to mentor and support newer associates as the firm continues to grow. This role is best suited for a seasoned practitioner who thrives in a fast-paced environment, is comfortable taking ownership of outcomes, and approaches family law with both strong litigation skills and genuine care for the clients we serve.

Requirements

Juris Doctor from an accredited law school and a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
Active admission to practice law in New York and in good standing, with a clean professional discipline record.
At least five years of meaningful legal experience, including substantial experience handling complex matters with a high degree of independence.
Demonstrated ability to manage a demanding caseload while maintaining strong organization, responsiveness, and attention to detail.
Meaningful courtroom and litigation experience, with the ability to represent clients effectively in contested proceedings.
Excellent legal writing, verbal communication, time management, and interpersonal skills.
Strong research, analytical, and case strategy abilities.
Confidence, flexibility, and sound professional judgment.
A leadership mindset and willingness to mentor newer associates within the firm.
Patience, compassion, and attentiveness to client needs while maintaining focus on practical and successful legal outcomes.
Availability for in-person appearances for mediations, meetings, and court proceedings throughout the firm’s service region, including matters ranging from Albany to Plattsburgh, New York .
Outside of required appearances, the daily work location may be flexible.
Completion of, or willingness to complete, advanced training, including Certified Divorce Specialist™ training, 30 hours of basic mediation training, and 15 hours of interdisciplinary collaborative divorce training .

Nice To Haves

The ideal candidate should be comfortable using modern legal and business technology, including: Microsoft Office Adobe Acrobat Pro Westlaw Ooma Google Workspace Dropbox Experience with Clio Grow, Clio Manage, and Family Law Software is a plus.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary attorney point of contact for assigned clients, providing timely updates, clear guidance, and steady leadership throughout each matter.
Establish expectations early and reinforce them consistently with respect to process, timing, risk, cost, and likely outcomes.
Produce client-facing work product and communications that are organized, polished, understandable, and aligned with the firm’s quality standards.
Handle emotionally charged client and opposing-party communications with empathy, professionalism, and appropriate boundaries, while keeping matters moving forward without unnecessary escalation.
Manage the full lifecycle of family law matters, including pleadings, discovery, motion practice, hearings, settlement conferences, trial preparation, and trial leadership or support as needed.
Draft and review high-quality legal work product, including motions, affidavits, discovery demands and responses, stipulations, agreements, orders, and judgments, with minimal revision required.
Ensure all filings and submissions are accurate, timely, and compliant with applicable rules, court requirements, and internal deadlines.
Advocate effectively in court, conferences, and negotiations by presenting facts, legal arguments, and settlement positions persuasively and professionally.
Lead strategic negotiation and settlement planning in a manner that aligns legal outcomes with client priorities and practical realities.
Prepare clients thoroughly for mediation and settlement conferences through clear expectations, strong documentation, and structured decision support.
Exercise sound judgment regarding when to press, when to de-escalate, and when to pivot strategy in order to achieve durable and practical outcomes.
Take ownership of the legal production pipeline for assigned matters, from strategy through delivery, to ensure work progresses smoothly, efficiently, and predictably.
Develop and maintain case plans, task lists, and deadline controls so that matters remain organized and nothing stalls, slips, or is overlooked.
Identify bottlenecks, remove blockers, and escalate emerging risks early, together with proposed solutions.
Ensure legal work is completed accurately, efficiently, and on time through effective delegation, leverage of team resources, and clear direction.
Lead, direct, and mentor associates, paralegals, and support staff working on assigned matters.
Assign work with clear instructions, defined expectations, and specific deadlines, then review work product for quality and provide coaching for continued development.
Help foster a culture of accountability, consistency, professionalism, and excellent client service through strong example-setting and respectful candor.
Coordinate with firm leadership regarding personnel needs, team capacity, training, and performance feedback as they relate to effective case execution.
Maintain contemporaneous timekeeping and strong billing hygiene consistent with firm expectations.
Support proactive financial management of matters, including retainer oversight, replenishment awareness, and alignment between the scope of work and client expectations.
Meet role expectations for productivity, quality, responsiveness, and client satisfaction while upholding the firm’s standards and supporting healthy margins.
Participate in consultations and case evaluations as requested, presenting confidently and helping convert appropriate matters through a thoughtful, consultative approach.
Contribute to the firm’s reputation through professionalism, responsiveness, and consistently strong execution.
Support relationship-building, referral development, and visibility efforts as needed, including community presence, professional networking, and thought leadership initiatives.