Cultivating Civil Legal Justice Leaders
A Law School Virtual Conference
Convened by the New York State Permanent Commission on Access to Justice in partnership with the University at Buffalo School of Law.
March 8, 2023
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Note: CLE credit is not available for viewing any of the videos below.
Agenda
- Helaine M. Barnett, Chair, New York State Permanent Commission on Access to Justice
- Hon. Anthony Cannataro, Acting Chief Judge of the State of New York
- Aviva Abramovsky, Dean and Professor of Law, University at Buffalo School of Law, State University of New York
Earn 1.0 NYS CLE in the area of Ethics and Professionalism (transitional or non-transitional credit).
Moderator:
- Steven Banks, Special Counsel, Pro Bono, Paul Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP; Former Commissioner, New York City Department of Social Services (2014-2022); Attorney-in- Chief, New York City Legal Aid Society (2004-2014)
Participants:
- Saima Akhtar, Senior Attorney, National Center for Law and Economic Justice
- Kim Diana Connolly, Professor of Law; Vice Dean for Advocacy and Experiential Education, University at Buffalo School of Law, State University of New York; Co-Chair, 2023 Law School Conference Planning Committee
- Hon. Craig D. Hannah, New York State Supreme Court Justice, Eighth Judicial District
- Adrian Neil, General Counsel, Rochester City School District, Department of Law; Member, New York State Permanent Commission on Access to Justice
- Shivani Parikh, Fordham University School of Law, Class of 2024, Stein Scholar, REAL Scholar, Crowley Scholar
- William P. Quigley, Clinical Professor of Law Emeritus, Loyola University New Orleans, College of Law
Earn 1.0 NYS CLE in the area of Ethics and Professionalism (transitional or non-transitional credit).
Moderator:
- Raymond H. Brescia, Hon. Harold R. Tyler Chair in Law and Technology and Professor of Law, Albany Law School
Panel:
- Renee Danser, Associate Director, Research and Strategic Partnerships, Access to Justice Lab, Harvard Law School
- Sateesh Nori, Executive Director, JustFix
- Andrew M. Perlman, Dean and Professor of Law, Suffolk University Law School
- Elizabeth Tran, Legal Services Director, Houston Volunteer Lawyers
Please join one work group session to participate in the discussion on Cultivating Civil Legal Justice Leaders.
Group A - How Law Schools Can Cultivate the Housing Justice Leaders of Tomorrow, Who Will Help Build Tenant Power and Attack Structural Challenges
Coordinators:
- Grace Andriette, Senior Supervising Attorney, Housing Unit, Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc.
- William J. Niebel, Tenants Advocacy Attorney; Adjunct Professor of Law, Director, Tenants Advocacy Practicum, Cornell Law School
Law Student Panel:
- Malcolm Drenttel, Cornell Law School, Class of 2025
- Alan Eiland, Fordham University School of Law, Stein Scholar, REAL Scholar, Class of 2024
- Yusong Jin, Tenants Advocacy Fellow, Cornell Law School
- Jennifer Seidman, Cornell Law School, Class of 2023
Tenant Organizer:
- Carolyn Headlam, Founding Member, Ithaca Housing Collective
Group B - Legal Knowledge, Cultural Competency and Life Experience through Sustained Community Pro Bono Engagement
Coordinators:
- Elyse Diamond, Director, Public Interest Law Center and Adjunct Professor of Law, Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University
- Patricia Malone, Legal Director for New York Justice Initiatives, Pro Bono Net (PBN)
Panelists:
- Bethany Cereo, Center Attorney, Legal Hand Call-In Center, Schenectady and Albany Counties, Center for Community Justice
- Stephanie Costa, Center Attorney, Legal Hand Call-In Center, Westchester County, Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University
- Hon. Fern A. Fisher, Center Attorney, Legal Hand Call-In Center, Nassau-Suffolk Counties; Sassower Distinguished Visiting Professor of Law, Visiting Associate Professor of Law and Special Assistant for Social Justice Initiatives to the Dean, Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University; Member, New York State Permanent Commission on Access to Justice
- Wantee Ramkaran, Program Manager for New York Justice Initiatives, Pro Bono Net (PBN)
- Nicole Wong, 2022 J.D. and Pro Bono Scholar, Maurice A. Dean School of Law at Hofstra University; Member/ Lived Expert, National Association of Counsel for Children (NACC); Tax Associate, Paul Hastings LLP
Group C - Strengthening and Sustaining Pathways for Public Service and Public Interest Lawyers: Law School Support for Students and for the Pipeline to the Legal Profession
Coordinator:
- Adrian Neil, General Counsel, Rochester City School District, Department of Law; Member, New York State Permanent Commission on Access to Justice
Panelists:
- Katie Blum, Staff Attorney, Civil Rights Unit, Empire Justice Center
- Hon. Craig D. Hannah, New York State Supreme Court Justice, Eighth Judicial District
- Tina Monshipour Foster, Executive Director, JustCause
- Langston McFadden, Partner, Law Offices of Pullano & Farrow
- Analiese Vasciannie, University of Buffalo School of Law, State University of New York, Class of 2024
Group D - Becoming the Next Generation of Family Justice Leaders and Advocates
Coordinator:
- Judith G. Olin, Clinical Professor; Director, Family Violence and Women’s Rights Clinic (FVWRC), University at Buffalo School of Law, State University of New York
Panelists:
- Elizabeth “Lizzy” Vinal, Staff Attorney, Family Law Unit, Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc.; 2022 J.D. University at Buffalo School of Law, alumnae of FVWRC
- Shamira Nawz, University at Buffalo School of Law, Class of 2023, Student Attorney FVWRC, Family Help Desk
- Chanel Powell, University at Buffalo School of Law, Class of 2023, Student Attorney FVWRC, Healing Station Agency
Remarks
- Matthew Diller, Dean and Paul Fuller Professor of Law; , Fordham University School of Law; Chair, New York State Permanent Commission on Access to Justice Law School Involvement Working Group
Work Group Session Reports
Each group provided a brief report and recommendations.
Concluding Remarks
- Helaine M. Barnett, Former president of the Legal Services Corporation and currently chairs the New York State Permanent Commission on Access to Justice
