About
Considered an expert in the area of domestic violence, matrimonial and family law, Ms. Susser has more than 25 years of experience litigating in the Family, Supreme and Integrated Domestic Violence Courts of New York State. She has published several articles on domestic violence and has presented to and trained hundreds of professionals throughout the State.
Ms. Susser provides representation and consultation to individuals in the areas of special education, matrimonial and family law, and serves as a consultant to not-for-profit and governmental agencies.
Ms. Susser joined the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) in 1997 to develop a law student clinic that continues to host 10-12 law students each year and represent hundreds of victims of domestic violence in NYC Family Courts. She was promoted to Director of the Matrimonial and Family Law Unit where she managed a staff of fifteen lawyers and paralegals until 2017. In addition to litigating complex matrimonial and family law matters, she trained and supervised new attorneys, developed programs, wrote and managed grants, served on the leadership team, and maintained relationships with funders.
Prior to working at NYLAG, Ms. Susser was a staff attorney at Victim Services (now known as Safe Horizon) where she represented victims of domestic violence in Family Court. From 1990 until 1995, she was a trial attorney in the Juvenile Rights Division of the Legal Aid Society where she represented children in child protective and delinquency proceedings in Kings County.
Ms. Susser participated in the Statewide NYSBA/ NYWBA Domestic Violence Initiative. She was a member of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York and served as Secretary of the Domestic Violence Task Force. She serves on the Education and Law Committee of the The New York City Bar Association. Ms. Susser is also an active member of the Lawyer’s Committee Against Domestic Violence.
Ms. Susser served as a Visiting Assisting Clinical Professor and Director of the Family Law Clinic at Touro College Jacob Fuchsberg Law Center during the Fall of 2016. She also served as an Adjunct Professor at St. John’s University School of Law and taught at New York Law School.
Having graduated George Washington University National Law Center, Ms. Susser is licensed to practice law in New York. Her practice is client-centered with a keen focus on children.
Areas of Practice
Special Education
Of Counsel with The Law Office of Elisa Hyman, P.C.
Divorce
Child & Spousal Support
Child Custody & Parenting Time
Domestic Violence
Civil Union Dissolution
Crime Victim Rights
Mediation
Collaborative Divorce
Attorney Review
Adoption & Second Parent Adoption
Post-Judgment Matters
Child Protective Matters
Appeals
Grandparent Visitation
Select Publications
Kim Susser, “Litigating Custody and Visitation in Domestic Violence Cases” in Goodman and Leidholdt, ed., Lawyer’s Manual on Domestic Violence: Representing the Victim, 6th Ed., NYS Appellate Division, First Dept. 2015.
Amy Barasch and Kim Susser, “Court of Appeals Recognizes New Frontiers in Parenting” Outside Counsel, NYLJ, September 19, 2016.
Kim Susser, “Nicholson Revisited: New York Lawyers Seek Protections for Battered Mothers and Children” 23 ABA Child Law Practice 113, No. 7 (Sept. 2004).
Kim Susser, “Weighing the Domestic Violence Factor in Custody Cases: Tipping the Scales in Favor of Protecting Victims & Children,” 27 Fordham Urban LJ 875 (2000).
Tami Steckler and Kim Susser, “Practice Pointers for Attorneys in Family Offense Proceedings” in Cohen & Neely, ed., Lawyer’s Manual on Domestic Violence: Representing the Victim, 2d
Ed., NYS Appellate Division, First Dept. 1998.
Elkins & Fosbinder, The New York Law of Domestic Violence, West 1998; updated Supplements 2000 - 2002.
Awards
New York City Bar Association Legal Services Award
June 2015
Training Institute for Mental Health “Achievement Award for Outstanding and Generous Service in Domestic Violence in NYC”
April 2012
New York City Bar Association “Kathryn A. McDonald Award for Excellence in Service to the Family Court”
May 2009
Lawyer’s Committee Against Domestic Violence “In the Trenches Award for Indomitable Courage, Vision and Dedication to Ending Violence Against Women”
March 2007
Courtroom Advocates Project “CAP Commitment and Leadership Award”
May 2000
Select Presentations
Speaker, Practicing Law Institute, Addressing Domestic Violence Across Practice Areas
Expert Witness Panel (February 2016)Speaker, Practicing Law Institute, Child Law Institute, Evidentiary Issues for Family Court Practitioners (July 2016)
Representing Intimate Partner Violence Survivors:
Building Practical Skills for Legal Services Attorneys
in Matrimonial Matters. (Two-Day Training)
Empire Justice Center, Albany (June 2015)Healing or Hurting?: The Hopes and Hazards
of Mixing Mental Health and the Courts
Making the Most Out of Forensic Evaluations
and Court Ordered Investigations
Fordham University School of Law (March 2012)Recent Changes to NY DV Laws
New York County Lawyer’s Association (January 2013)Family Court Processes & Legal Advocacy Training
for Trauma Systems Therapy Practitioners
Jewish Board of Family & Children’s Services (October 2008)Domestic Violence Victim in Child Custody Proceedings
Cross Examining the Forensic Expert
Two-Day Trial Skills Training
NYS Office of the Prevention of Domestic Violence
Albany Law School (2004)Select Media
Otterman, When Living Your Truth Can Mean Losing Your Children, The New York Times, May 25, 2018
Raphelson, When Leaving Your Religion Means Losing Your Children, NPR, June 14, 2018
McKnight & Wertheim, Judge in Milton Bradley abuse case may let ex-All-Star out of jail early, Sports Illustrated, October 9, 2015
Training/Consultation
Ms. Susser is available for training and consultation in the areas of domestic violence and family law.
Ms. Susser served as a Visiting Assisting Clinical Professor and Director of the Family Law Clinic at Touro College Jacob Fuchsberg Law Center during the Fall of 2016. She currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at St. John’s University School of Law where she's taught Trial Advocacy and the Domestic Violence Litigation Clinic. Ms. Susser previously taught a class on Family Court at New York Law School.
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