Vincentian lawyer urges focus in practicing law
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Stating that there are many
challenges, on a regular basis,
that he has had to address in
practicing law, Brooklyn lawyer
Roland G. Ottley urges legal
practitioners to be “always
organized and focused.”
“Some cases involve more
complicated issues and consume
a lot of your time,” the
Vincentian-born Ottley, who
grew up in the Brownsville section
of Brooklyn and practices
law, as a solo practitioner, in
East Flatbush, told Caribbean
Life in an exclusive interview.
“Some cases require intense
legal research to figure out a
legal strategy,” he added. “Some
cases require lengthy conversations
with your clients.”
Ottley, who works simultaneously
as a physician assistant
at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical
Center in East Flatbush, said
meeting these challenges can
be more difficult “if you do not
have the burning passion and
desire to practice law, and to
use the Lord to help others.”
He, however, said success
comes from the achievement of
the client’s objective.
“Some cases may take many
years before you’ll eventually
see the fruits of your labor,” he
said. “After practicing for these
many years, I have developed
the experience to handle cases
in a way that will allow me the
leverage to advantageously settle
cases for my clients.”
After migrating from St.
Vincent and the Grenadines in
October 1969, Ottley graduated
from James Madison High
School in Brooklyn.
He said he lived in Germany
for a few years, and then
attended and later graduated
from the St. John’s University
College of Pharmacy and Allied
Health in Jamaica, Queens in
1989.
From St. John’s he received
a bachelor’s of science degree
in physician assistant studies
and has been working as a
surgical physician assistant for
more than 20 years at Kingsbrook
Jewish Medical Center.
Ottley, who is certified as
a surgical physician assistant
by the National Commission
on Certification of Physician
Assistants, has surgical experience
in neurosurgery, general
surgery, urology, otolaryngology
and gynecology.
He said he has published several
articles in physician assistant
publications and wider
medical literature, and has been
the speaker and, at times, the
moderator at national and New
York State physician assistant
conferences.
Ottley said he once held an
adjunct professor position at
the City University of New York
(CUNY) School of Medicine’s
Physician Assistant Program.
For many years, he served
as a member of the Healthcare
Committee for late Congressman
Major Owens, who had
represented the then 11th Congressional
District in Brooklyn.
After graduating from Villanova
University School of Law
in Pennsylvania in 1996, where
he received his juris doctor (JD)
degree (law), Ottley opened his
own law firm, The Ottley Law
Firm.
He said he concentrates on
immigration law, personal injury,
landlord/tenant, consumer
fraud, uncontested divorce,
employment and discrimination
laws.
He is admitted to the city and
state courts of New York, the
Southern and Eastern Districts
of New York federal courts, the
Second Circuit Court of Appeals
and immigration courts.
Ottley said he teaches paralegal
students how to handle
work in a law office, and exposes
them to the practice of law in
the courts.
He said he introduces paralegals
to legal research and legal
analysis, as well as legal writing.
Brooklyn lawyer Roland G. Ottley.