At McGraw Law, we help you navigate the complicated legal waters with which one is sometimes presented. We are dedicated to understanding what challenges you face and explaining what options are available to you. We will work with you every step of the way to make sure that you understand the choices you are making and feel empowered to make them.
With over 30 years of experience, Charlene E. McGraw leads our team to help you understand and choose the options that work best for you. Her daughters, Emily and Elizabeth, are ready and available to assist you with scheduling or your legal needs.
Because of the dynamics of a small firm, at McGraw Law you can be sure that the expertise of the whole team weighs in on your case.
Charlene E. McGraw is the founder and principal attorney at the McGraw Law Firm. In 2011, Charlene left her position as Chair of the Estates, Trusts & Elder Law Practice at the Sugarman Law Firm and opened a small office in Skaneateles in order to be able to provide more personalized and client-friendly legal services to her clients. Charlene enjoys the challenge of resolving complex legal problems, but the most satisfying part of her job is being able to alleviate her clients' stress by taking on the complicated legal issues they face as the result of difficult circumstances such as disability, long term care needs, and death.
Charlene's first legal employment was with the Mackenzie Hughes firm in Syracuse. During that time, she was primarily a litigator; she represented clients in administrative hearings, mediations, arbitrations, jury trials, and appellate matters. That experience not only taught Charlene how to litigate, but also how to effectively counsel clients to avoid expensive and unpredictable litigation.
For the past twenty years, Charlene's practice has been concentrated in the areas of estate planning, elder law, guardianship matters, estate administration, and estate-related litigation. She helps her clients successfully navigate the complicated laws governing probate, estate and gift taxation, guardianship, asset protection and Medicaid. She prepares the legal documents clients need including Wills, New York General Powers of Attorney, Health Care Proxies, Living Wills, Living Trusts, Irrevocable Trusts, Deeds, and Limited Partnerships.
Charlene graduated from Binghamton University with a B.S. in Accounting and received her Juris Doctorate from Syracuse University College of Law (summa cum laude). She is a member of the Onondaga County and New York State Bar Associations as well as a member and past President of the Estate Planning Council of Central New York. Charlene is also a popular speaker for continuing legal education programs sponsored by bar association and other professional organizations.
Charlene grew up in Syracuse, and she and her husband, Ed McGraw, raised their three daughters there. However, Charlene and Ed fell in love with the Skaneateles area and its beautiful lake many years ago. In 2006, they moved to the Village of Skaneateles. Charlene is an active member of the community and currently serves on the Foundation Board of the Skaneateles Chamber of Commerce as well as on the Board of the Laker Limo program.
Elizabeth S. LaRochelle returned home to the Central New York area and joined McGraw Law in 2019 after practicing at a very successful client-centered firm in Nashua, New Hampshire for several years, honing both her litigation and client counseling skills.
Elizabeth graduated from Westhill High School before attending University of Vermont, where she received her B.A. in Political Science. She received her Juris Doctorate from the University of New Hampshire School of Law (cum laude) in Concord, New Hampshire.
A native of Syracuse, Elizabeth left the area to attend undergraduate and law school, but returned to be closer to her extended family. She is excited to be back and is ready to usher McGraw Law Firm into its next chapter, continuing the family tradition of helping clients navigate the complicated legal world while also giving back and being involved in the community at large. Elizabeth currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Skaneateles Chamber of Commerce, the Westhill Educational Foundation, the Onondaga Free Library Board of Trustees.
Born and raised in Syracuse, Emily attended and graduated from Westhill High School. Emily returned to Central New York in 2008, making Skaneateles her home, and joining McGraw Law in 2016.
Emily is an active member of the community. In her spare time outside of working as a realtor for Berkshire Hathaway and at McGraw Law, she coaches recreational soccer and lacrosse teams for her daughter as well as organizing multiple food drives for the Skaneateles Ecumenical Food Pantry.
Emily was awarded the SKN Inspire Award in 2021 by the Skaneateles Chamber of Commerce for being a rising leader in the community focused on volunteerism, service, and involvement within the Skaneateles community.