Mary Ellen O'Connor

Mary Ellen O’Connor is the founding attorney of O’Connor Law, a Larchmont, New York, firm devoted to helping injured workers and individuals with disabilities across Westchester and the Bronx. Since launching her practice in 2009, she has championed the rights of clients in White Plains, Yonkers and the Bronx, securing the benefits they need to support themselves and their families. For her, advocacy is not simply a profession – it is a calling rooted in a lifelong commitment to fairness and access to justice.

From the very first call or consultation, Ms. O’Connor works to alleviate her clients’ concerns. Drawing on her former career as an elementary school teacher, she demystifies the complexities of workers’ compensation and Social Security disability law, translating legal concepts into clear, jargon-free language. By educating her clients about their rights and the steps ahead, she empowers them to participate actively in their own cases and to make informed decisions with confidence.

An accomplished litigator and respected trainer, Ms. O’Connor spent years mentoring new attorneys and delivering continuing-education lectures before forming her own firm. Her competence in both workers’ compensation and disability benefits has earned her a reputation as a formidable advocate in administrative hearings and court proceedings alike. She currently serves on the board of directors for the Injured Workers Bar Association and the Workers’ Compensation Alliance, where she contributes her insights and tirelessly promotes best practices in the field.

Ms. O’Connor’s dedication to professional growth is integral to her approach. Holding a B.S. from the University at Albany - State University of New York and an M.S. from the University of Mount Saint Vincent, she initially taught K–2 students, many of whom struggled to access essential support services.

Motivated to expand her impact, Ms. O’Connor earned her J.D. from City University of New York School of Law with the intention of focusing on special education law. However, recognizing systemic inequities and redirected by a deep sense of purpose, she embraced workers’ compensation and Social Security disability law, where her blend of compassion, advocacy and proficiency continues to transform lives.