Erin E. McKinley

Erin E. McKinley operates a distinctive and focused family law practice in Ithaca, New York, centered on collaborative processes and mediation as alternatives to traditional litigation. Operating from 309 North Aurora Street in Ithaca, McKinley has spent nearly two decades practicing family law in the Ithaca community, and for the past fifteen years has deliberately limited her practice to working with clients who choose collaborative processes, mediation, or out-of-court negotiation to resolve their family law matters.

Erin E. McKinley is a practicing attorney and mediator in private practice with eighteen years of experience in family law matters. This significant depth of experience in matrimonial law provides McKinley with the knowledge and judgment that comes from extended practice in the field. However, what distinguishes McKinley's career is not simply the years of experience but the deliberate strategic choice about how that experience is deployed.

Since 2009, Erin McKinley has limited her practice exclusively to clients who opt to use collaborative processes, mediation, or out-of-court negotiation to resolve their family law disputes. This strategic focus represents a profound commitment to alternative dispute resolution methods over adversarial litigation. Rather than fighting cases before judges, McKinley works with families to find solutions that serve everyone's interests through cooperative processes.

Collaborative law is a specialized approach to family law practice in which both spouses hire separate collaborative attorneys who agree to work together, along with other professionals such as financial advisors and child specialists, to resolve family law disputes without litigation. The collaborative process centers on problem-solving, transparency, and shared commitment to finding solutions that work for the entire family. Each spouse has their own attorney ensuring their interests are protected, but the process itself is fundamentally different from adversarial litigation.

Mediation is another approach McKinley uses extensively. In mediation, the lawyer serves as a neutral third party helping both spouses communicate and negotiate their own settlement. Rather than a lawyer advocating for one side, the mediator helps both parties understand each other's interests and work toward solutions acceptable to both. Mediation can be more cost-effective than litigation and often results in settlements that better reflect both parties' actual needs.

Out-of-court negotiation represents yet another alternative to litigation. In this approach, each spouse may have their own attorney, but the attorneys work together to negotiate settlement rather than fighting cases before judges. This approach combines the individual advocacy of separate attorneys with the efficiency and lower cost of negotiated settlement.

Erin McKinley's deliberate limitation of her practice to these collaborative, mediation, and negotiation-based approaches reflects a philosophical commitment to alternative dispute resolution. This is not simply a business decision but a professional choice about how to practice law and serve families. Many family law attorneys practice both litigation and collaborative/mediation work. McKinley's choice to limit her practice signals genuine belief in the value and effectiveness of these approaches for families.

The collaborative law community in Ithaca has recognized McKinley's commitment and expertise. She is listed as a member of the Ithaca Area Collaborative Law Professionals, an organization bringing together lawyers, mental health professionals, financial advisors, and other specialists committed to collaborative practice methods. This membership reflects both her professional commitment and her recognized expertise in the field.

McKinley is a certified divorce and custody mediator, a credential indicating specific training in mediation processes and demonstrated competence in helping families navigate mediation. This certification, beyond her law degree and admission to practice, reflects specialized preparation for mediation work.

For families in Ithaca and surrounding communities who seek family law resolution through collaborative processes or mediation rather than litigation, Erin E. McKinley offers the experience, credentials, and commitment that such processes require. The collaborative law and mediation approaches McKinley practices have become increasingly recognized as effective alternatives to traditional litigation—often producing better outcomes for families at lower cost while reducing conflict and maintaining better post-divorce relationships.

Clients who work with McKinley can expect an attorney who has chosen to dedicate her practice to non-adversarial family law resolution, who is certified in mediation, and who brings eighteen years of family law experience to the service of families seeking cooperative solutions. Whether through collaborative law where both spouses have separate attorneys working cooperatively, through mediation where McKinley helps both parties find common ground, or through other out-of-court negotiation, families benefit from an attorney deeply committed to helping them resolve family law matters constructively and collaboratively.