Kathryn Dell | Troy Criminal Lawyer

Lawyer.com Member Questionnaire

Please describe a case(s) in the last year or two where you made a big difference.
About a year ago I received a call from a client who had lost custody of her four children and the matter was set for a hearing. The case was in a county that I do not practice in on a regular basis but I was up to the challenge. The client was not happy with her current lawyer and asked if I could help. The client had lost custody due to drug use and subsequent arrest and imprisonment. After a testimony from expert witnesses and exhibits that showed the court the turn around mu client had made in her life and why it would be in the children's best interest if my client had custody the court granted my client custody of her youngest child with unfettered access to her eldest children who were living with a grand parent. I still maintain contact with this client who I now consider a friend and it is great to see what an impact I have had on her life when other people did not seem to care and thought her case was hopeless. This person is a great parent and the facts just had to be brought to the court's attention.

How did you build a successful practice?
-I have been working as a sole pratitioner for 24 years and would not trade it for anything. In order to succeed you have to have a good reputation. Your reputation is everything. You have to be trustworthy and a person of your word. Your word means nothing if you do not follow up on what you say. You have to earn the respect of your peers and the courts. You have to be an advocate when others don't see any merit to your case. You have to be willing to take a chance when others want to take the easy road. I have often taken cases other people don't want and I have been successful.

What should clients look for in a lawyer?
-Client's have to be comfortable with any lawyer they work with. If a client does not feel comfortable with their lawyer then there may be a trust issue. The lawyer is working for the client but needs the client to be as open with them as possible so that all the facts can be ferreted out. If a client is not comfortable with their attorney they may hesitate to say certain things to the lawyer which hurts their case. You should also look for a lawyer who respects you and understands your position. Your legal matter is important to you. Make sure you find an attorney who feels the same way about your case as you do.
What differentiates you from other lawyers in your community?
-What differentiates me from other attorneys in my area is that I come from a blue collar family and I am where I am today through hard work. I know what it is like to work and get my hands dirty, and I know what it is like to be seriously injured. I did not go to law school right from college so I did not go to law school wearing rose colored glasses. I did not just walk into an established law firm and start working. I started my practice from nothing and now I own the building where my practice is located and have ran my own law firm for 24 years.
What are your other interests in addition to law?
-Aside from practicing law I also love to travel. I also rehab houses and sell them. I am the President of Esquire Properties of Troy, Inc. which buys and rehabs homes in the area.

• Member | New York State Bar Association

• Kathryn Dell
• Avvo | Kathryn Dell