February 2023:
The MLO Minute: “Gratitude for 40 Years Continued: The Excellence of our Scranton Office and Beyond!” —
By Dennis McAndrews, Esq., Founder and Managing Partner Emeritus —
I have great affection for Northeastern Pennsylvania. I grew up in the little town of Moscow, population 1,200, about 20 minutes outside of Scranton. (John Mellencamp‘s “Small Town“ is one of my favorite songs). So many “firsts” in my life occurred there – my first job (picking up cigarette butts at Lake Hideaway at age 8), my first crush (4th grade for a cute girl with jet black hair—don’t tell Liz), and my first competitive basketball basket (seventh grade—a layup from the right side). I was blessed with parents who were wonderful public school teachers and mentors of hard work and the benefits of education and decency; they always taught my siblings (Briggs, Brian, and Helen) and me that doing the right thing was its own reward. And our marvelous legal team in our Scranton office has given me yet another NEPA source of gratitude.
Our Senior Partner who manages our Scranton office, Heather Hulse, J.D., M.S., M.A., came to us as a law student in 1999. Heather grew from a young law student pursuing both a law degree and a psychology degree into one of the premier Special Education Attorneys in America. Early in her career she also worked in developing estate plans and special needs trusts, and even though she now concentrates on special education, she brings that experience and her two psychology degrees to offer our clients the wisdom and compassion that comes with her broad background. Heather has enjoyed success in not only in NEPA, but all across Pennsylvania, north, south, east and west. Every day she has worked with us has been a personal and professional delight for her clients and colleagues.
Ever since we opened in NEPA, Heather has been skillfully assisted by our excellent NEPA paralegal, Roseann Paul. Roseann is a wonderful colleague to Heather, and our monthly case status conferences always reflect how well Roseann knows our clients and works with them. When I interviewed Roseann for the job, I needed to bring my youngest daughter, Brianna, who was about 12 years old, to the interview and Brianna immediately told me that we needed to hire Roseann. Brianna was right!