November 17, 2009 - Ms. Sucher launched her new law blog, Legal Agility.

October 2007 - Ms. Sucher has joined the Brooklyn Bar Association.

July 2007 - Ms. Sucher is proud to be working of counsel to Rose Weber on civil rights litigation on behalf of the 2004 Republican National Convention arrestees.

June 13, 2007 - Ms. Sucher assisted Daniel Scott in securing an acquittal in People v. Davis after a jury trial on the charge of murder in the second degree.

May 2007 - Ms. Sucher has joined the National Lawyers Guild.

April 2007 - The firm's new website was launched.

March 2007 - The firm moved into a new office at 26 Court Street, Suite 2412, Brooklyn, New York 11242.

Please click on the links above for more detailed information about each of our practice areas.

Danielle E. Sucher has a lifetime of experience with the New York City court system. As a child, she could be found playing in the courtrooms of the Brooklyn Supreme Court, watching as her father argued cases. She began her legal practice while still in high school by drafting motions and appellate briefs for her father's cases.

Ms. Sucher graduated from New York Law School, where she won Best Brief in the Herbert Wechsler National Criminal Law Moot Court Competition on behalf of the school as a member of the Moot Court Association. While in law school, Ms. Sucher studied mental disability law with Professor Michael Perlin, and assisted Mental Hygiene Legal Services in representing mentally disabled adults in involuntary civil commitment hearings. Ms. Sucher worked on state and federal criminal defense cases during her time with Hurwitz, Stampur & Roth, medical malpractice suits with Joshua Schulman, Esq, and litigated workers compensation and employment discrimination cases with Susan B. Egan, Esq. and the Egan Law Firm. Currently, Ms. Sucher is of counsel to the Law Office of Michael T. Sucher.

Before establishing her solo practice, Ms. Sucher worked as a Court Attorney for Judge Gerstein of the Criminal Court of the City of New York, Kings County.

Ms. Sucher maintains Legal Agility, where she blogs about the various areas of law that catch her interest. She formerly maintained the Mental Disability Law Blog, where she kept the public informed about changes in mental disability law. She provides pro bono legal services by representing indigent women in contested divorce proceedings through inMotion. She also offers free legal advice at the legal advice walk-in clinics and transgender name change clinics organized by LeGaL.

Ms. Sucher is a member of the Brooklyn Bar Association, the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the National Lawyers Guild, and LeGaL: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Law Association of Greater New York. She is an active participant of the American Bar Association Solosez mailing list, where she shares advice and support with other solo attorneys around the country.

In addition to practicing law, Ms. Sucher is an avid Go player and artist. She maintains a food blog, Habeas Brûlée, writes a cooking column for Gothamist, creates blown glass artwork at Urban Glass, and engages in myriad other forms of visual and performance art.

Criminal Defense and Reintegration

Center for Community Alternatives: Innovative Solutions for Justice
Center for Employment Opportunities
Collateral Consequences of Criminal Charges - New York State
The Correctional Association of New York
Family Justice
Interfaith Coalition of Advocates for Reentry and Employment
Muldoon's Criminal Law
New York State Department of Correctional Services
Reentry Resource Center - New York
Women's Prison Association

LGBT Legal Issues

Lambda Legal
NYC Marriage Bureau: Domestic Partnership
New York State Attorney General's Sexual Orientation Non-Discrimination Act FAQ

Matrimonial and Family Law

Divorce Certificates - New York State Department of Health
New York State Unified Court System: Matrimonial Matters & Divorce Forms
South Brooklyn Legal Services - Community Education & Self Help

Mental Disability Law

American Bar Association Commission on Mental and Physical Disability Law
American Board of Forensic Psychology
Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law
The Campaign for Mental Health Reform
Dr. Bursztajn - Forensic Psychiatry & Medicine
SeniorLaw: Guardianship for Incapacitated People in New York
Mental Disability Rights International
The Mental Health Association of New York City
National Alliance on Mental Illness
National Disability Rights Network
National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice
New York Guardian and Fiduciary Services
New York Law School's Online Program in Mental Disability Law
New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities
Urban Justice Center Mental Health Project

Special Education

Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates
Learning Disabilities Association of America
National Association of Parents with Children in Special Education
National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
New York City Resources for Children with Special Needs
New York City Parents for Inclusive Education
U.S. Department of Education's Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) 2004 Resources
Wrightslaw Special Education Law and Advocacy

General

FindLaw
The Lawyer's Client Manifesto

During your initial consultation, Ms. Sucher will evaluate your case and discuss the benefits and drawbacks of the available legal options with you. Should you retain this office for your representation, Ms. Sucher will explain the available fee structures and work out a billing arrangement that meets the value you will receive from her services.

Whenever possible, Ms. Sucher prefers to provide flat fee services. In those cases where hourly billing is necessary, she still maintains her commitment to value billing. Ms. Sucher will respect your budget and keep you updated on the time she spends working on your case.

In criminal matters, Ms. Sucher believes that there is excessive pressure on defendants to accept plea bargains rather than going to trial and forcing the government to actually prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. She prefers to make the government actually bear its proper burden by taking on clients who want to fight for their day in court. Nonetheless, she always keeps the client's best interests as her top priority, and will always keep you apprised of settlement possibilities and the risks and benefits of taking a plea bargain versus going to trial. Ms. Sucher is an excellent negotiator, and the decision on whether to negotiate for a more favorable plea bargain or to make a stand is ultimately always up to client.

For more information on rates and services, or to schedule an initial consultation, please call (718) 682-2661 or email .

The materials on this website have been prepared by the Law Office of Danielle E. Sucher for educational and informational purposes only and are not intended as legal advice. This website should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a professional attorney who is aware of your particular legal circumstances.

The use and receipt of the information offered on this website is not intended to create, nor does it create, an attorney-client relationship. Please feel free to contact this office via e-mail or otherwise. However, please be advised that an attorney-client relationship is not created through the act of contacting this office. No attorney-client relationship exists until you have signed a retainer agreement formally retaining this firm.

Except where otherwise indicated, the Law Office of Danielle E. Sucher does not maintain and is not responsible for the information, accuracy, completeness, usefulness, or adequacy of any resources that can be accessed via hypertext links from this website.

All situations differ, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Ms. Sucher is strongly opposed to the paternalism and discrimination prevalent in the legal system and in society towards people with mental disabilities. Sanism frequently leads to discrimination in family law, special education, employment, housing, and other areas.

Under certain circumstances, the law permits people with mental disabilities to be civilly committed against their will. In these cases, it is of utmost importance to help the court understand the nuances of the circumstances and the law, and to defuse the prejudice which may threaten to outweigh the evidence. Ms. Sucher also understands the importance of the right to refuse treatment, and represents patients in forced medication cases as well.

Ms. Sucher handles Article 81 guardianship cases, and is on the panel for assigned counsel to represent allegedly incapacitated persons.

In the family law context, Ms. Sucher is particularly interested in representing parents with mental disabilities who seek to fight against the termination of their parental rights.

Ms. Sucher also represents criminal defendants with mental disabilities, and families with mentally disabled children who require special education. Please use the links above to reach the sections on criminal defense and special education for more information.

If you are arrested, it is important that you remain silent and do not say anything at all to the police until you have had the opportunity to speak to an attorney. You have the right to remain silent, and so it is your responsibility to resist any pressure the police may put upon you to make a statement. Any statement you make may ultimately damage your chances of being found not guilty at trial, or offered an advantageous plea bargain. Should you be asked to surrender yourself, never go alone - make sure your attorney goes with you, to protect you from possible police interrogation at the time of surrender.

You have the right to an attorney when facing criminal charges, and if you cannot afford to retain private counsel, the court will appoint an attorney to represent you. However, as a private attorney, Ms. Sucher has the time and resources to devote herself to protecting your rights. And as a former Court Attorney at the Brooklyn Criminal Court, she has the experience and familiarity with the New York City criminal justice system needed to zealously defend you.

It is important to retain an attorney as early in the process as possible. In New York, after you are arrested, your first court appearance should take place within 24 hours. What happens at that first court appearance can greatly affect your case as it proceeds through the criminal justice system. Without a skillful attorney to argue the issue of bail, you are more likely to remain incarcerated pending trial, which will affect your ability to prepare your defense to best advantage.

Defendants with mental disabilities should be represented by an attorney familiar with the special issues they may face. Ms. Sucher's background with mental disability law helps her understand the prejudices and legal nuances that can arise in these cases. While it is sometimes advantageous to argue mental disability as a defense or reason why the defendant cannot stand trial, it often leads to an even longer period of incarceration in a mental health institution than the defendant would otherwise spend in prison. The risks are even greater when a sexual offense is charged. The decision on how to best frame and handle mental health issues must be evaluated carefully and based on the particular circumstances of each case.

As in her family court practice, Ms. Sucher is experienced in handling issues of polyamory, bdsm, and lgbt rights in the criminal defense context. She understands and can explain to the court how non-traditional perspectives on gender identity, sexual practices, and relationships may come up in crafting a defense, or in making sure that the defendant is not mistreated when in custody or in court.

Many attorneys deter defendants from going to trial by imposing higher fees should the case progress that far. Ms. Sucher, on the other hand, is frequently interested in accepting cases where the defendant is committed to going to trial for pro bono representation during trial only. If your case is approaching trial and fear of paying a higher fee to get your day in court is forcing you to consider pleading guilty instead, please call our office at (718) 682-2661 to discuss the situation and the possibility of pro bono representation for hearings and trial only.

Ms. Sucher handles the full range of family and matrimonial matters for LGBT and other non-traditional families and individuals as well as for more traditionally structured heterosexual families. She is familiar with issues of polyamory, bdsm, and transgender rights, all of which can come up in family law and divorce proceedings. Ms. Sucher believes in fighting for you and your family, no matter your sexual orientation or lifestyle choices, your psychiatric diagnosis, or your age. Contacting our office means not having to worry that your attorney will be among those who may be prejudiced against you because of your sexual and relationship history.

Family Court

The New York City Family Court hears cases such as child protective proceedings, adoption, custody and visitation, child support, guardianship, juvenile delinquency, paternity, domestic violence, and persons in need of supervision.

Ms. Sucher has experience representing adoptive parents in same-sex visitation disputes, dealing with the intersection of family and criminal law with regard to both youthful offender charges and orders of protection, and sifting through the often sparse evidence of income with child support disputes. She understands that her job is to be a storyteller and a translator, and to explain complicated personal issues in an uncomplicated way to the court on your behalf. And for minors involved in juvenile delinquency or youthful offender matters, she can explain what you can do to work towards a better result should your or your child's case move towards a dispositional hearing.

For same-sex couples, unless you have adopted your non-biological child, you will have no right to custody or visitation under New York law. New York permits second parent adoption, where the non-biological parent can adopt a child without causing the biological parent to lose any rights. If you and your partner have children, it is important that the non-biological parent(s) legally adopt the children immediately, in case anything should happen. Ms. Sucher can lead you through the process of adopting your child and gaining parental rights under the law.

Divorce/Matrimonial

Rather than going through a painful and lengthy contested divorce, you may wish to consider negotiating the issues with your spouse and obtaining an uncontested divorce instead. If you and your spouse can agree on all the details of how to divide your property and arrange maintenance, child custody, visitation, and support, obtaining an uncontested divorce is just a matter of paperwork that your attorney can prepare.

Ms. Sucher will do everything in her power to help you resolve your issues with your spouse and avoid having to undergo draining litigation in obtaining your divorce. She emphasizes negotiation, mediation, and compromise in working out matrimonial matters amicably and efficiently.

Ms. Sucher is also available to act as a neutral mediator for both spouses together, or to draft pre- or post-nuptial agreements on your behalf.

If you are considering getting a legal separation or divorce, please consult with an attorney before moving out of your marital home or making any significant financial decisions, as doing so may affect your rights. You can prepare for your first appointment by gathering together as much financial documentation as you can, such as your most recent tax return, bank account statements, and estimated monthly expenses.

Ms. Sucher handles uncontested divorces on a flat fee basis, and charges her regular hourly rate for drafting pre-nuptial and separation agreements and handling contested divorce matters.

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), every child is entitled to a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). Parents, medical health professionals, teachers, school administrators, and attorneys all have roles to play in making sure that each child receives the type of care and education that they need.

Ms. Sucher represents families whose children have special needs in resolving their disputes with the school system. She prefers to protect the collaborative relationship between parents and school professionals during the course of negotiation, but is willing and able to demand a due processing her and fight if that is what it takes to protect your child's rights.

Before you come in, we ask that you collect all the paperwork you have regarding your child's education and arrange it in chronological order. That will make it easier to go through your child's history together, and discuss the best way to advocate towards a better future.

We recommend that you read Wrightslaw: Special Education Law and Advocacy, an incredibly thorough resource which will help you understand the process of special education advocacy.

Ms. Sucher handles a wide range of legal matters beyond those detailed in other sections of this website. The breadth of her practice and understanding of the law gives her great advantage in handling legal issues that arise rarely, or where there is no established precedent for the court to follow. Her practice gives her the adaptability needed to react to unanticipated twists in the law.

If you have a legal matter which is not described elsewhere on this website, please do not hesitate to contact this office and describe the details of your unique situation.