For employees at Albany law firm Hinman Straub, what often makes the work worth doing is each other.
“I think it’s about the people,” said Colleen Rumsey, a principal at the firm. “It’s one of the reasons I really enjoy working here.”
The law firm spans fields from health law, insurance, labor, education and government relations. Rumsey, 46, of East Greenbush, started there 2 ½ years ago after working for the state. She specializes in representing health plans and going over how regulations and new legislation affect insurers.
“It was challenging, it was something new, but it was also the area of law that I practice, something that I enjoy,” she said. “I get to problem-solve on issues that impact consumers and their daily lives.”
Kristin Foust, a principal at the firm, also moved from the public to the private sector when she started at Hinman Straub 18 years ago after working at the Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office. Foust, 43, of Saratoga, also made the move to a completely different legal field, representing public and private sector clients in areas like employment, labor and anti-discrimination law.
“I enjoy the subject matter of my work. It’s challenging and exciting and ever-evolving,” she said. “I get to do different things every day.”
Rumsey described a “collegial environment” where coworkers regularly discuss and collaborate. Foust said her coworkers keep an open door — no matter if it’s in her department or another in the firm.
“That leads me to do the job to the best of my ability,” she said. “And it’s something I’m very grateful to have at Hinman.”