Attorneys

Laura Etlinger joined Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP in April 2026 as Of Counsel in the Firm’s Litigation and Appeals Practice Group after spending nearly 25 years with the New York Attorney General’s Office Division of Appeals and Opinions. Ms. Etlinger brings extensive experience handling all aspects of appeals in New York and federal appellate courts on a wide range of subject matters, including handling numerous appeals and motions for leave in the New York Court of Appeals. She has also drafted successful papers on petitions for certiorari in the U.S. Supreme Court and engaged in motion practice in that Court. Ms. Etlinger also has experience drafting amici briefs. Additionally, she spent four years as Special Assistant to the General Counsel at the New York State Office of Children and Family Service. Prior to joining the Office of the New York State Attorney General, she served in two appellate clerkships, as law clerk to the Hon. Howard A. Levine of the New York State Court of Appeals and to the Hon. Walter K. Stapleton of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Ms. Etlinger was the recipient of the 1999 National Association of Attorneys General Best Brief Award for the amicus brief in The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System v. Southworth. Recipient of three N.Y. Attorney General Lefkowitz Awards for outstanding performance.

Ms. Etlinger is admitted to practice in New York and is a member of the New York State Bar Association.

Ms. Etlinger volunteers with The Legal Project of Schenectady, New York providing pro bono services on immigration matters. She also dedicates time to volunteering with Planned Parenthood of Northern New England.

Ms. Etlinger earned her Juris Doctor, summa cum laude, from Albany Law School where she served as valedictorian of her graduating class. She graduated with her B.A. in German/Linguistics. 

In her free time, Ms. Etlinger enjoys long walks, practicing yoga, attending jazz concerts and foreign films, and traveling.