E-Honora: GRAWA’s Electronic Newsletter

It is 30 years since Stiller graduated from Albany Law School , yet her enthusiasm for her new firm and her passion for the practice of law and life in general reverberates with the excitement and energy of a 2005 law graduate.

“Jaeckle Fleishmann & Mugel has a tremendous intellectual property practice in addition to a large labor and employment law practice, an employee benefits practice group, experienced business litigation attorneys and a full service corporate group that works in tandem with the other groups,” Stiller said. “I am so proud to be a partner in this prestigious firm that has such a strong reputation in Western New York and represents national and international companies.”

The legal team at the firm includes over 70 attorneys between the Buffalo , Amherst and Rochester offices, a dozen paralegals as well as a patent examiner.

Becoming A Lawyer

When Stiller was eight years old, she decided to become a lawyer.

“There weren't any lawyers in the family, and I didn't really even know any lawyers,” she reflected. “But my aunt knew Irv Kessler and I had the opportunity to sit down with my yellow pad and ask him questions about becoming a lawyer. We still joke about whether he gave me all the ‘right' or ‘wrong' answers. Most days I'd say they were the right answers and it truly was a privilege to work along side Irv for 22 years.”

Majoring in political science at SUNY at Albany , Stiller worked as a meat wrapper, retail associate, waitress and bill collector to help pay her way through college. She took in typing as yet another source for financing her education. She completed her undergraduate studies in three years graduating magna cum laude in 1972.

Despite what sounds like a hectic schedule, she participated in her school's peer justice program as Chief Justice of the University Student Judicial Committee.

During law school, Stiller was on the law review staff and worked as a legislative aid.

“I loved Albany ,” she acknowledged. “But my heart has always been in Rochester and I've never regretted returning.”

She joined the Monroe County District Attorney's office under Larry Kurlander's watch in 1976 as one of the first two female full-time assistant district attorneys in Monroe County . Her frequent need to call medical experts as witnesses led her to brainstorm and implement a mock trial program for medical students. Working in conjunction with Donald Ciaglia, an instructor at the University of Rochester Medical School, Stiller served as the judge in the early days of these mock trials. Within a few years, the trials moved to the Hall of Justice and judges presided over the proceedings designed to teach medical students ethical and legal aspects of their future profession.

“Making students aware of the need to talk in terms the jury can understand, without excessive medical jargon is one aspect of the exercise,” Stiller explained. “Add to that perhaps a lesson in humility -- the courtroom is our operating room, and physicians are required to observe our rules when serving as witnesses.”

The mock trial program gained national attention through CNN News and The New York Times. Stiller was asked to bring the program to the American College of Surgeons, conducting training trials throughout the United States.

Private Practice And Community Involvement

Stiller left the DA's office to join the firm Goldstein, Goldman, Kessler & Underberg in 1983, gaining experience in litigation. She began their employment law group in 1987, the same year that she became a partner there. Her courtroom skills combined with her mentoring philosophy led her to become an adjunct faculty member at Monroe Community College where she has taught business law for more than 20 years. Her expertise in the employment arena made her a great catch when Lawyers Cooperative Publishing Co. (later Thomson West) was seeking an author for a New York practice guide on employment law. Stiller has authored and updated Employment Law in New York , Volume 13 A of the New York practice series, since 2001. She wrote its predecessor, Handling Employment Disputes in New York , along with Judge Denny Chin of the Southern District of New York, and Mindy Novick, then corporate counsel with Long Island Lighting Co.

A 1999 recipient of the Monroe County Bar Association's Raymond J. Pauley Award, Stiller's community service reaches far beyond the legal community. In 2005, she chaired the Women United segment of the United Way Campaign, after participating whole-heartedly on various committees since this initiative began four years ago. In 1997 she received the Rochester Women's Network “W” Award, and has been nominated three times for the Athena Award.

She serves on the advisory panel for The Daily Record and has been active in the Greater Rochester Association for Women Attorneys, including serving as president and heading numerous committees. She is also on the board of directors for the National Women's Hall of Fame and is vice president of the board of the Little Theater.

In line with her professional acumen, she is a Fellow of the American Bar Association College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. She also serves on the panel of neutrals for the American Arbitration Association in both mediation and arbitration.

“Ironically, as a kid, I was not a joiner,” Stiller admitted. “I still consider myself a highly socialized introvert. My tendency would be to read or paint or partake in other solitary activities.”

Despite her purported inclinations otherwise, she has been active in numerous other community projects and programs.

Just For Fun

About five years ago Stiller began taking art lessons, admitting that if she wasn't an attorney, she'd want to be an artist. Currently she studies with Chas Davis and her daughter Sierra often joins her for “on location” classes where they may be painting a lakeshore or landscape.

“I used to prefer to paint people,” Stiller stated. “But painting teaches you a different way to look at things and sometimes it is easier to see the details of something that you don't have an emotional investment in. I'm learning a lot about color and texture -- and it's a great form of relaxation.”

She enjoys taking photos and has some great people photographs enlarged and framed in her office.

A few years ago, Stiller ran her first marathon -- just to see if she could do it. Since then she has completed three marathons, despite her life long affliction with asthma.

Recently she returned from a four-day weekend to the Grand Canyon where she and friends hiked down the canyon in a six hour trek, spent the night at the Phantom Ranch, and hiked the eight hours back up.

Another of Stiller's personal accomplishments combines her creativity and career. In 1995 she produced a play about the Susan B. Anthony trial, with the performance held in the Canandaigua courtroom in which Anthony was tried.

“Gary Lehmann wrote the play, using transcripts from the Anthony trial to add authenticity,” Stiller recalled. “We weren't sure we'd get permission to use the courthouse, but it worked out great and I think the audience got a good flavor of what it must have been like to be charged with voting as a female.”

In her own way, Stiller has been a Susan B. for future generations of female attorneys, demonstrating her untiring commitment to giving back to the community.