Photo ©2015 SaratogaPhotographer.com
BY JILL NAGY
Attorney Tammy Arquette first became interested
in family law when she was 11 years old
and her parents began caring for foster children
and, a little later, adopted a child. She observed
them dealing with the legal system, went with
them to court and, as a result, she decided that,
when she grew up, she wanted to be an attorney
representing children.
As a law student at Albany Law School in the
late 1980s, she interned at a law guardian back-up
center, a source of legal research and assistance
for attorneys appointed as law guardians. Jack
Carter, her boss at the center, later became the
person responsible for appointing law guardians
statewide.
Although she never did practice as a law
guardian, Arquette’s law practice for the past
24 years has concentrated on matrimonial and
family law.
She began as an associate with Paul Calahan in
his small general practice law firm in Duanesburg,
doing a little bit of everything. She found that
practice a good background for family practice
with its aspects of real estate, criminal, commercial
and other types of law. From there, she went
to a large matrimonial law firm for several years.
In December 2009, she opened the Arquette
Law Firm in Clifton Park. She calls it a “matrimonial
and family law firm that also does other
general practice.”
She estimates that 80 percent of the practice is
in the family and matrimonial area; the rest covers
the gamut of real estate, bankruptcy, vehicle
and traffic, and other areas of law. Her associate,
Alexandra Buckley, also does matrimonial and
family law and some general practice and is also
admitted to practice in Federal Court.
Arquette said she never really experienced
any problems in her professional life because
she is a woman. She practices in an area of the
law where there are many female practitioners
and some female judges, she noted. Most of her
work is in the Capital District, primarily Saratoga,
Schenectady and Albany counties.
Now that her children are both in their 20’s,
Arquette feels free to work long hours, usually
six days a week.
“I always take Sunday off,” she said.
Arquette’s office is at 990 Route 146 in Clifton
Park. Her telephone number is 373-9300. Her
website is www.arquettelaw.com.