Ellis is an Associate with O’Connell & Aronowitz and a member of the firm’s Divorce, Family & Matrimonial practice. She focuses on helping individuals and families navigate divorce, separation, custody, child support and other family law matters with compassion, patience and a practical understanding of the challenges they may be facing.
Her interest in family and matrimonial law began well before law school, shaped in part by her own experience with the legal system during her parents’ divorce. As a child, she had an Attorney for the Child who took the time to explain the legal process and help her understand what was happening. That experience left a lasting impression and ultimately inspired her to pursue a career helping individuals and families through similarly difficult transitions.
Recognizing that clients often seek a family law attorney during one of the most stressful and emotional periods of their lives, Ellis places a strong emphasis on patience and clear communication. The end of a marriage, concerns about custody and parenting time, and uncertainty about the future can all feel overwhelming. Her approach is to meet clients where they are, explain their options in understandable terms and help them identify a practical path toward their goals.
Her experience includes divorce and separation agreements, with an emphasis on pursuing negotiated resolutions when doing so serves her client’s interests. She recognizes that resolving a family law matter involves more than addressing an immediate legal dispute. The decisions made during the process can affect a client’s children, finances and family well into the future, making it important to consider both immediate needs and longer-term goals.
While earning her Juris Doctor from Albany Law School, Ellis participated in the Family Violence Litigation Clinic, where she assisted with custody and child support matters involving survivors of domestic violence. Working with clients facing highly personal and difficult circumstances reinforced for her the importance of building trust and giving clients the time and space they need to discuss their experiences and concerns.
That work continued during her second-year summer internship with The Legal Project, where she assisted with custody, child support and divorce matters involving survivors of domestic violence. Her work focused particularly on legal research and drafting. During law school, she was also named to the President’s List for the majority of her time at Albany Law School before earning her Juris Doctor in 2024.
Prior to law school, Ellis earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, with a minor in History, from the University at Albany in 2021, graduating summa cum laude. Her studies in psychology provide an additional perspective when working with clients experiencing significant stress or who feel strongly about a particular issue or outcome. While recognizing the distinct role of an attorney, she seeks to understand the concerns underlying a client’s position, allowing her to better understand their priorities and advocate for their goals.
At the University at Albany, she was a member of Tau Sigma, an honor society for transfer students, and volunteered with The Red Bookshelf, a community initiative that refurbishes donated books and makes them available to children throughout the Capital Region at no cost.
Outside of the office, Ellis enjoys crocheting and playing the piano.
Education
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Albany Law School
JD, 2024 -
University at Albany
BA in Psychology | Minor in History, summa cum laude, 2021
Admissions
- New York State
