Heather Dukes is a Senior Partner at Colwell Law Group. Ms. Dukes believes that competent, compassionate, and diligent representation of clients entrenched in family and matrimonial litigation is necessary. A lawyer who is able to come alongside their client and strategically advise them may positively impact their family for generations to come. She prides herself on being honest and direct with clients, while also providing them with compassionate care and attention to detail. Operating with integrity is also important to me.
Ms. Dukes understands that some cases require careful, mediated agreements, while others require fierce courtroom advocacy. She works with clients to devise a litigation strategy that best suits their needs. Clients expect her to provide attention to detail, along with over 20 years of litigation experience.
Areas of Practice:
Ms. Dukes graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude from Union College and received her Doctorate of Law at American University’s Washington College of Law. During her time at Union College, she interned at one of the only police stations in the world dedicated to crimes against women located in Sao Paulo, Brazil. She also interned at the United States Department of Justice in Washington DC in their Civil Rights Division. Heather credits these experiences for sparking her interest in family law and trained her to be a staunch advocate for people in need. For nearly two decades Heather was employed as an attorney with Unity House in Troy, New York where she assisted thousands of indigent clients and families in crisis in family court and matrimonial matters. During her tenure at Unity House she also worked in conjunction with the Albany Law School’s Family Violence Clinic, where she guest lectured and supervised law students with cases in Rensselaer County courts. For 14 years Heather represented children in Rensselaer County Family Court in custody, family offense, abuse and neglect, PINS, and juvenile delinquency proceedings.
Ms. Dukes has guest lectured on various topics involving family and matrimonial law at Russell Sage College, Albany Law School, Hudson Valley Community College, and Mildred Elley College. She has conducted Continuing Legal Education Seminars on family law related matters for the New York State Bar Association and the New York State Attorney General’s Office. During her tenure at Unity House they were nationally recognized and received the Mary Byron Award for outstanding representation of domestic violence survivors. Heather also received an award from the Schenectady Human Rights Commission for pro bono representation of religious organizations.
In her spare time Heather enjoys international travel and spending time in the great outdoors. She is also an avid equestrian and sponsors a retired racehorse housed at Walkill Correctional Facility through the Second Changes Program; a joint collaboration between the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and the New York State Division of Corrections. Heather is a proud dog mom to “JJ” a maltipoo and “Magdelena” a long haired Chihuahua.
Heather Dukes is a Senior Partner at Colwell Law Group. Ms. Dukes believes that competent, compassionate, and diligent representation of clients entrenched in family and matrimonial litigation is necessary. A lawyer who is able to come alongside their client and strategically advise them may positively impact their family for generations to come. She prides herself on being honest and direct with clients, while also providing them with compassionate care and attention to detail. Operating with integrity is also important to me.
Ms. Dukes understands that some cases require careful, mediated agreements, while others require fierce courtroom advocacy. She works with clients to devise a litigation strategy that best suits their needs. Clients expect her to provide attention to detail, along with over 20 years of litigation experience.
Areas of Practice:
Ms. Dukes graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude from Union College and received her Doctorate of Law at American University’s Washington College of Law. During her time at Union College, she interned at one of the only police stations in the world dedicated to crimes against women located in Sao Paulo, Brazil. She also interned at the United States Department of Justice in Washington DC in their Civil Rights Division. Heather credits these experiences for sparking her interest in family law and trained her to be a staunch advocate for people in need. For nearly two decades Heather was employed as an attorney with Unity House in Troy, New York where she assisted thousands of indigent clients and families in crisis in family court and matrimonial matters. During her tenure at Unity House she also worked in conjunction with the Albany Law School’s Family Violence Clinic, where she guest lectured and supervised law students with cases in Rensselaer County courts. For 14 years Heather represented children in Rensselaer County Family Court in custody, family offense, abuse and neglect, PINS, and juvenile delinquency proceedings.
Ms. Dukes has guest lectured on various topics involving family and matrimonial law at Russell Sage College, Albany Law School, Hudson Valley Community College, and Mildred Elley College. She has conducted Continuing Legal Education Seminars on family law related matters for the New York State Bar Association and the New York State Attorney General’s Office. During her tenure at Unity House they were nationally recognized and received the Mary Byron Award for outstanding representation of domestic violence survivors. Heather also received an award from the Schenectady Human Rights Commission for pro bono representation of religious organizations.
In her spare time Heather enjoys international travel and spending time in the great outdoors. She is also an avid equestrian and sponsors a retired racehorse housed at Walkill Correctional Facility through the Second Changes Program; a joint collaboration between the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation and the New York State Division of Corrections. Heather is a proud dog mom to “JJ” a maltipoo and “Magdelena” a long haired Chihuahua.
Colwell Law
At the Colwell Law Group, our number one priority is always our clients. The members of our team have decades of combined experience in negotiating and trying family law cases. We are able to use our experience and our knowledge of the courts and New York family law to act as advocates for our clients. Our lawyers are dedicated to serving our clients’ best interests while also allowing them to feel heard and understood. We want to ensure that they trust us and understand why we do what we do. Colwell Law has numerous attorneys who are experienced in Family Law that can help put you at ease. Call for a consultation.
Colwell Law
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(518) 462-4242