Administrative Professionals Day Spotlight: Donna Hudson

What motivated you to pursue a career in the legal industry, and how has it lived up to your expectation so far?

My mom worked as a legal secretary for a firm on Wall Street before she married, and I guess the stories she told about her job were my inspiration to follow in her footsteps. After receiving my Associates Degree from SUNY at Farmingdale, my mom reached out to the office manager of her old firm and my career began. I met and started working with Paul Golinski in the Trusts and Estates Department of that firm in 1976 and moved to Cullen and Dykman with him in 1989. I haven’t wanted to change careers for the past 47 years, so I think it’s safe to say I love my job.

Can you describe a typical day in your role as an administrative staff member at the firm?

Each day brings something new.  Here are only a few of the possibilities: Billing matters; client calls, research on various websites, including Websurrogate, ACRIS, Social Security Death Index, Ancestry.com, etc.; drafting court documents using HotDocs program; notarizing; serving citations and preparing and executing affidavits of service; obtaining estate/trust EIN numbers from IRS online; E-filing with the Surrogate’s Courts. And, as “Keeper of the Vault,” retrieve from or add original estate planning documents to the vault (34 floors down) and maintain the card index and ledger for same.

What aspects of your job bring you the most satisfaction or joy, and why?

Helping people and knowing that I have made a difference in their lives by listening to their concerns, answering their questions and, if I cannot, by referring them to someone who can.

What is your favorite memory while working at Cullen and Dykman?

Time spent with all the wonderful people at Cullen and Dykman that have touched my life over the years and who have helped me achieve my goal of doing my best. Special thanks to the support staff (Office Services, Records, IT and Accounting). I cannot do my job without them!!  

What is one valuable piece of advice that you have received from a colleague, mentor, or supervisor, and how has it influenced your approach to your work?

Someone once told me “Listen, learn, ask questions and always go the extra mile!!!” It worked.

What accomplishment in your professional life are you most proud of, and what did you learn from this experience?

Learning how to ribbon a will!!! I discovered early on that one of my many qualities is perseverance. It took a while to get the hang of it, but by the time I moved to C&D, I was giving lessons. I haven’t ribboned a will in a while (it’s a dying art), but I still have my box containing hole punch, needles, red ribbon and gold seals.

When you are not at work, what hobbies, interests, or activities do you enjoy?

I am an avid reader and animal lover. I enjoy the outdoors, nature and fishing.

Thank you to Paul Golinski

I could not end without mentioning Paul Golinski, the attorney I worked with for 45 years before he retired from C&D in 2020. He is kind, thoughtful, generous and really cares about his clients and their needs. He is a true gentleman. He is my mentor and friend and I consider him “family.”

Thank you, Paul, for your wisdom and guidance and all the memories we share!!!