Erin Mears

Of Counsel

Erin is a dedicated and seasoned advocate for children and families. Erin serves as counsel to the firm on family law matters including divorce, pre-nuptial and divorce agreements, child custody, child support, orders of protection, and Article 10 child protective matters.

Before starting her practice, Erin dedicated her career to advocating for survivors of gender-based violence and elder abuse in New York City. Erin served for over eight years as a Senior Staff Attorney at Sanctuary for Families Center, where she litigated hundreds of complex matrimonial and family law cases, in the process developing her skills as a seasoned litigator and assisting clients in navigating the complex court system. Erin represented clients in all stages of litigation in divorce, custody, child support, orders of protection, and child protection matters.

Erin also trained and supervised thousands of law students and pro-bono attorneys from New York City’s top law firms to represent indigent New Yorkers in Family Court through the Courtroom Advocates Project at Sanctuary for Families. Erin also served as the Acting Director of Manhattan Family Justice Center for the New York City Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender Based Violence, where she oversaw and coordinated numerous legal and mental health professionals who provide interdisciplinary legal, mental health, criminal justice, and economic empowerment services to survivors of gender- based violence, elder abuse and sex trafficking.

Erin started her legal career with a prestigious clerkship for the New Jersey Superior Court where she worked on family court matters specializing in child protection cases. Erin was responsible for assisting the court with drafting legal opinions and mediating cases involving parental visitation and child support. During her clerkship, she received training and a certificate in mediation and conciliation.

While in law school, Erin worked in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office as a paralegal in the Early Case Assessment Bureau and as an intern in the Kings County District Attorney’s Domestic Violence Bureau, where she gained invaluable insights to assist clients whose family law cases intersect with the criminal justice system. Erin also interned with the New York State Attorney General assisting with consumer fraud litigation.

Prior to attending law school Erin started her career as a public servant by serving as a community liaison for the New York City Public Advocate and as Deputy Chief of Staff for New York State Senate Minority Leader Martin Connor. Erin has committed her distinguished career to serving as a fierce advocate for justice and empowerment for New Yorkers.

Erin is highly sought after to organize and train lawyers in family law, intimate partner violence and elder abuse. She organized and co-chaired numerous conferences on intimate partner violence and continuing legal education programs for the Lawyers Committee Against Domestic Violence at Fordham Law School. She also conducted numerous trainings at New York City’s top law firms, New York City’s Law schools, the Manhattan and Brooklyn Family Justice Centers and several community-based organizations. Erin was featured as an expert trainer for a Practicing Law Institute’s Continuing Legal Education Program and nationally broadcasted webinar on litigating order of protection cases. She has also been invited to speak at New York Law School’s Cyber Harassment clinic.

In private practice Erin utilizes her expertise in family law to advocate for clients in all complex stages of negotiations, litigation and settlement proceedings. Erin works with clients to effectively plan for family separation, including the financial implications of separation and divorce. Erin approaches cases strategically and zealously advocates for clients’ interests.

CONTACT

Full Name : Erin Mears
Company : Meenan & Associates, LLC
Job Title : Of Counsel
Web Page Address : www.meenanesqs.com
Business Address : 299 Broadway,
Suite 1310 New York,
NY 10007 United States of America
Business Phone No : (212) 226-7334

AREAS OF PRACTICE

Elder Law
Family & Divorce Law
Trusts & Estates

EDUCATION

City University of New York Law School at Queens College (CUNY), J.D., 2007

ADMITTED

New York, 2008; New Jersey, 2007

HONORS

University at Albany, Combined BA/MA Program Political Science; CUNY School of Law Public Interest Summer Fellowship

AFFILIATIONS

Lawyers Committee Against Domestic Violence

New York Office
299 Broadway, Suite 1310
New York, NY 10007
By Appointment Only

Tampa office
1725 East Fifth Avenue
Tampa, FL 33605
By Appointment Only