Hawthorne & Vesper PLLC

01/30/2025

WE ARE GROWING!

We congratulate Kaitlyn G. Hoerner, Esq., who has been promoted to Partner with the firm! Ms. Hoerner has been with the firm since 2015 when started as a law clerk during law school. She focuses her practice on family law and is experienced in representing clients in all types of family law matters. When not in court, she loves hanging with her two dogs and planning her next trip to Disney.

01/30/2025

👀 Are you or someone you know looking for a Part-Time Legal Administrative Assistant role in Downtown Buffalo? Hawthorne and Vesper is an established, fast-paced family law firm, and we are seeking the right individual to join our Team and help us grow! 👀

Job Title: Legal Assistant (Part – Time)
Location: Downtown Buffalo
Schedule: 20 – 25 hours per week, with potential for more
Job Summary:
The primary responsibility of this role is to support and enhance all administrative functions in a fast-paced, established family law firm. This includes developing case information, evidence and settlement options, tracking case statuses, court and client communication, supporting attorney's trial proceedings, and other duties as assigned.

Legal Assistant Job Duties:
• Provide excellent customer service:
 Answering phone calls 9am-5pm and prepare handwritten messages
 Scheduling appointments
 Professional communication with all interested parties including all court personnel
 100% discretion is a must
• Active file maintenance and organization, monitoring calendars; meeting deadlines; documenting actions; inputting information into file database; confirming case status with attorney.
• Scanning, Purging and shredding documents.
• Entering and logging time spent on each case in billing system.
• Help develop cases by maintaining contact with all parties involved in the case; arranging for ser-vice of process; scheduling depositions; preparing and filing pleadings; monitoring and obtaining discovery responses; preparing responses to opposing counsel.
• Keeps clients informed by maintaining contact; communicating case progress. Preparing various types of correspondence related to cases in word document form and e-mail.

• Maintains case costs by verifying outstanding balances with attorney, clients, and providers.
• Enhances trial proceedings by organizing evidence; preparing exhibits; scheduling witnesses; ensuring that witnesses are ready when needed.
• Accomplishes organization goals by accepting ownership for accomplishing new and different re-quests; exploring opportunities to add value to job accomplishments.

Pay Range:
$17 – 18 per hour
Application process:
Please forward your resume to [email protected]
Skills/Qualifications: Legal Administration Skills, Litigation, Client Relationships, Organization, Planning, Attention to Detail, Confidentiality, Dependability, Ability to Handle Intense Emotional Cases, fluent in Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook

03/09/2024

When you are married, it’s common to intermingle your finances, open joint credit card or loan accounts or purchase a home, making it tough to figure out what happens to that debt in the divorce.

Discover what happens to debt when you get divorced.

03/08/2024

Many of us have heard the statistic that roughly half of all marriages in the U.S. end in divorce. That statistic still holds true for first marriages. But if you’re going through a divorce, statistics are irrelevant: It’s your life that’s being impacted.

Understanding the process and getting solid advice can help you achieve a better outcome.

03/06/2024

Of all the things that need your attention when you’re going through a divorce, credit cards are probably low on your list. But making the right moves early on can set you up for a smooth return to managing credit as a single person.

Sorting out your credit cards during a divorce can set you up for a smooth return to managing your credit as a single person.

03/02/2024

Gray divorces are more common these days, and the financial impact of them may be greater than you think. https://bit.ly/3oN4oI1

03/01/2024

Is it worth keeping your mortgage in a divorce?

Mortgage rates are higher than we've seen in decades. Assuming the marital home mortgage could be a viable option for those going through divorce and keeping the home.

02/28/2024

Tax breaks you could be eligible for after your divorce.

You could be eligible for some tax breaks once your divorce is finalized. Keep reading to learn about what they are and how they may apply to your situation.

02/24/2024

Couples may sign a postnuptial agreement to protect an inheritance, provide for a stay-at-home spouse, assign ownership of a business, repay a parental gift, or salvage a marriage.

A postnuptial agreement is created by spouses after entering into marriage to outline the division of financial assets in the event of a divorce.

02/24/2024

More than 1 in 3 divorced Americans say credit card debt played a role in their decision to divorce their spouse, according to a recent survey. And of those who blame credit card debt as a primary factor in their divorce, 7 in 10 say that their ex-spouse hid the debt from them.

Many divorced Americans point to credit card debt and hidden spending as reasons for the split.

02/21/2024

Divorces in the U.S. have been declining over the past decade, though the divorce rate saw an increase of 3.6% between 2021 and 2022, according to the most recent census data. The rates also vary significantly between states.

Happy Valentine’s Day, America. Your divorce rates are ticking up.

02/17/2024

“Bird nesting” is a co-parenting arrangement where the kids stay in the family home, and the parents split their time between that house and a different one. While still an uncommon arrangement, it does appear to be on the rise, and it offers potential benefits, as well as challenges, for children and parents.

Experts explain how kids can benefit from this unique co-parenting situation.