James D. DiPasquale

Attorney at Law

 

Success Magazine: James, where did you grow up?
James DiPasquale: I was born in Glens Falls, New York but raised in Berwick, Pennsylvania. My extended family is from Warrensburg, so when my family moved back into the area in 1996, I began calling Warrensburg my home.

 

SM: When did you become interested in the law?
JD: For as long as I can recall I wanted to work in some capacity within our legal system. It wasn’t until mid-way through college, however, that I realized that being a lawyer was what I was intended to do. I have never looked back.

 

SM: Where did you go to law school?
JD: The Roger Williams University School of Law in Bristol, Rhode Island.

 

SM: Was it your goal to have your own practice?
JD: When I graduated law school, I was unsure where my path would take me. Naturally, owning my own firm was always an aspiration, but not until you have journeyed down your path for several years are you able to determine whether you are the type of person who should be in practice for themselves. Over the past year or so, that aspiration became a reality and I know now that it was the only path I could have taken.

 

SM: Where did you work prior to starting your own practice?
JD: Following law school I moved to Manhattan where I worked for several years with Havkins Rosenfeld Ritzert & Varriale, LLP a firm located in Mid-Town directly across from Madison Square Garden. After a while, I realized that it was time to move north and closer to my family. So, I took a position with an Albany based law firm where I remained for about one year. Albany, however, was not far enough north and I found my way to a firm in Saratoga Springs where I remained for another year and a half before opening my practice Warrensburg.

 

SM: How have your past work and life experiences helped to pave the way for success in your current role?
JD: Since opening my practice, I have worked 80 hours a week and during those times when I am not technically working….I am still working. Every person I meet is a potential client, so I have had to alter my personal and professional lives with that understanding. I was fortunate in that I had to work from a rather young age and maintain full-time employment through college and law school. While my friends were studying, I worked. When they slept, I studied. I learned to juggle tasks and balance life very efficiently. Quite naturally then, when confronted with the task of working 80 hours yet still finding time to enjoy the other aspects of my life, I was up to the challenge. I have also had the benefit of working with some extremely talented attorneys and the knowledge I took from them helped provide me with all the tools necessary to succeed in this business.

 

SM: What area of law do you specialize in?
JD: Working in a small community, it is difficult to specialize in any one area of law. My concentrations, however, are in serious personal injury litigation, criminal defense, business law, real estate, and estate planning. I avoid certain areas of practice such as family and matrimonial law, because my wife, Heidi Gifford is a very talented lawyer in those fields and so I am able to refer those types of matters to her.

 

SM: How many offices do you currently have?
JD: I maintain offices in Warrensburg and Saratoga Springs. My wife has an office in Gloversville so I also spend a great deal of time there working on Fulton and Montgomery County matters.

 

SM: How did you end up in Warrensburg?
JD: My family and friends are from Warrensburg so it made sense for me to return to the area when I decided to open my own practice. Additionally, with the election of Hon. John C. Hall to the Warren County Court, and the departure of now Essex County District Attorney, Julie Garcia, Warrensburg was left without an attorney who routinely provides litigation services to the residents of the community, thereby forcing them to seek counsel in neighboring communities. By opening my practice in Warrensburg, it was and still is my hope to fill some of the void left by the departure of these two attorneys.

 

SM: What sets you apart from other law firms in the area?
JD: I approach my practice with a simple goal, and that is to help every client get their life back on track. Whether they are coping with a serious injury from a motor vehicle accident, involved in a business dispute or facing criminal charges, I provide each client and his or her family with caring and professional legal representation.

 

SM: Why should a prospective client choose you?
JD: When you have legal concerns, you want to know that you have a place to turn and a lawyer you can trust. My firm is dedicated to the service of individuals, families, and businesses throughout the Capital Region and the North Country. From criminal defense to personal injury and estate planning, my firm can and will provide an experienced hand for real solutions. More importantly, every client who steps into the law office will get the full level of personal attention they expect and deserve. I will listen closely to your concerns and answer any questions you may have, so that I can provide solutions tailored to your individual or business needs. Whether you hope to keep your license after your DWI or you desire to form a corporation for a new business venture, I will be there for you.

 

SM: What accomplishment are you most proud of and why?
JD: The opening of my own firm is the accomplishment that I am most proud of. Many smaller accomplishments have been instrumental in my life, but the time, dedication, and passion needed to be successful in this business is something that cannot be taken for granted. My firm is new by comparison, but I believe it is based on a sound philosophy and a genuine concern for the well-being of my community.

 

SM: The schedule of an attorney is often a very arduous one. How are you and your wife able to balance your lives?
JD: Well, it certainly isn’t easy. Since my wife and I are both solo practitioners we often find ourselves working nights and weekends, so we don’t have much spare time. But in the little spare time we do have, we try to spend as much quality time as possible together. We are also both very family oriented, so it is important to us to spend time with our families whenever we can. The balance seems impossible at times, but we make it work.

 

SM: Is there a possibility of you and your wife joining forces in the future?
JD: It is a definite possibility. Between Heidi and I, we can handle almost any type of legal matter, so it makes sense to merge so that we are able to provide legal services to a broader range of clients. Also, since both of our practices are rapidly expanding, it may become a necessity sooner than anticipated.

 

SM: What are the ups and downsides of having a spouse who works in the same field?
JD: Just the other night, I came home after a long day in the office. It was about 9:00 p.m. About fifteen minutes later my wife came home from work. She made it no farther than five feet into our home before she dropped her bags, gave me a very concerned look and said….”How can we have kids? Who is going to take care of them?” That is one of the downsides of working in the same filed. We are both very dedicated to our practices and often, that means setting aside our personal lives. Fortunately, there are several advantages as well. It’s nice to come home at the end of a very stressful day and know that you have someone there that knows exactly what you are going through. It also helps to have another legal mind in the house to run ideas by and discuss your cases with. At the end of the day, I wouldn’t change a thing.

 

SM: What is the most challenging aspect of starting a law practice?
JD: There are several. When you work for a firm you don’t have to worry about dealing with the administrative aspect of the practice. When you open your own practice you quickly learn that administration can take up more than fifty percent of your time, and time is something you never have enough of. You have to find time to run the firm’s dayto- day operations between court appearances, depositions and meeting with clients, while also finding time to get out into the community and develop new business.