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(Editor’s note: This piece originally ran in the May 5, 2011 issue of the BrieflyLegal e-newsletter)

Jennifer Potter had just begun her legal career when she quickly realized the firm she was working for wasn鈥檛 a good fit. During law school Potter had clerked at her mother鈥檚 law firm, and she jumped at the chance to return to the small Albany practice in late 2006.

鈥淚鈥檝e pretty much learned everything from my mother, so who better to learn from as a young associate?鈥� Potter says of her mother, Denise Soto. 鈥淪he鈥檚 been a great teacher my whole life and that has just continued as I鈥檝e been practicing.鈥�

Soto says one of the biggest benefits of working together is that they complement each other so thoroughly. 鈥淪he has completely different talents than I have. She not only keeps us updated on new technology, but she鈥檚 also a research whiz, unlike her mother,鈥� she notes.

Potter and Soto agree that their ability to communicate so well is an added bonus of working together because it enhances their efficiency, and they each appreciate the other鈥檚 honest, objective feedback.

The one drawback of working together, according to Soto, is that it鈥檚 difficult not to goof off when Potter brings her 2-year-old son, Lucas, to the office. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just that Granny completely unravels when he鈥檚 around. I like to play,鈥� Soto says with a laugh.

Like Soto and Potter, Kathy Evans and Celia Batlan are a mother-daughter legal team who enjoy the rewards of working together, chiefly the chance to talk more and have lunch together.

Evans says she had reached a point in her Salem practice where she knew she either needed to bring in some younger associates to succeed her or join an established firm so her clients would be protected when she retired. At the time, Batlan was leaning toward going to law school.

鈥淚 saw my mother working in a profession and an area of law that she enjoyed,鈥� she says. 鈥淣ot only that, I appreciated the flexibility she had as a mother while I was growing up. I saw it as an opportunity to learn from her and spend time together, all while making a living.鈥�

Batlan joined Evans鈥� practice in 2008, and Evans says she relishes the chance to watch her daughter grow professionally. She also appreciates being able to trust her young associate with the business.

鈥淚 find it easy to transition a client — after I tell them that she is my daughter. They give her the benefit of the doubt and are always warm and welcoming to her,鈥� Evans says.

Evans and Batlan admit it鈥檚 difficult to get away for a family vacation and leave the office unattended. Still, their clients鈥� support outweighs any challenges.

鈥淭hey think it is really neat, not only to see a family business but also how unique it is to see a mother and daughter practice together,鈥� Batlan says. 鈥淕iven the fact that estate planning is really family driven, I think clients enjoy that we are family oriented in our business.鈥�