JoAnn Shartrand is an attorney admitted to practice law in the State of New York, and an experienced Divorce Mediator with The Divorce and Family Mediation Center. Ms. Shartrand is also a partner in the law firm of Shartrand and Shartrand, located in Saratoga and Albany, New York, where she concentrates in Matrimonial Law and Collaborative Divorce Practice.

In 1982, Ms. Shartrand graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology from the State University of New York at Cortland. In 1985, she graduated cum laude from Albany Law School, in Albany, New York and was admitted to the New York State Bar in January, 1986. She is currently actively licensed to practice law in the State of New York. She has 34 years of experience in the private practice of law, practicing almost exclusively in the areas of matrimonial and family law.

In 1996, Ms. Shartrand was trained through Russell Sage College in New York Divorce Mediation. In the past 23 years, she has conducted over 1,000 mediations, while at the same time continuing her private practice of law. She has completed advanced trainings to become proficient in Collaborative Divorce Practice. Additionally, Ms. Shartrand continues her private law practice because it enables her to stay familiar with the contested matrimonial practice in the Capital District area. Annually, she receives additional mediation training through the New York State Council on Divorce Mediation in special areas of mediation skills, such as mediation models and parenting issues; and this past spring she also received continued Training in Collaborative Divorce and Interest-Based negotiation skills. In January 2012, she reached the highest status of an accredited mediator with the New York State Council on Divorce Mediation.

Ms. Shartrand is the Founding Executive Director, Past President and current Vice President and Education Director of the Collaborative Divorce Association of the Capital District, located in Albany, New York, and a member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals. She is a member of the New York State Council on Divorce Mediation, and the New York State and Albany County Bar Associations. She is also an Impartial Hearing Officer for the Department of Education.

Ms. Shartrand is currently married to her law partner, Douglas Shartrand. She has two adult children, ages 26 and 29. She volunteers her time representing indigent clients through assignments from Albany and Rensselaer County Legal Aid.