Left: David C. Schopp, CEO, Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc., Lisa M. Patterson, Program Director for Externships, Public Interest and Access to Justice Initiatives Back Left: Stan Germán, Executive Director, New York County Defender Services - Right: Susan C. Bryant, Acting Director, New York State Defenders Association, Joanne Macri, Esq., Statewide Chief Implementation Attorney, NYS Office of Indigent Legal Services.

Participants in the 2018 Public Defenders Career Fair: (left) David C. Schopp, CEO, Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc., Lisa M. Patterson, Program Director for Externships, Public Interest and Access to Justice Initiatives. (back left) Stan Germán, Executive Director, New York County Defender Services. (right) Susan C. Bryant, Acting Director, New York State Defenders Association, Joanne Macri, Esq., Statewide Chief Implementation Attorney, NYS Office of Indigent Legal Services

New York State Public Defenders Career Fair

Friday, November 4, 2022

1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. via Zoom

If you have questions about any of these events, please contact Lisa Patterson at lpatter@buffalo.edu or 716-645-6262.

If you are a law student or recent graduate, you can still register here.

Gathering Hall
11/3/22
This is like the Room of Requirements from Harry Potter. Come here if you have any questions, need tech help, want to hang out and chat, or want to meet other attendees. Career Fair hosts will be on hand to help and guide you. Employers and speakers may also visit the room to network with you from time to time.
Discovery Center
11/4/22
Come here for information, networking, advice, ideas and inspiration.
Interview Center
11/4/22
An ever-expanding list of public defenders, each with their own zoom room. Links will be right on the website to lead you into their rooms! Feel free to visit each as though you were walking up to a table in a live career fair. If some rooms become busy, they may set up waiting rooms or breakout rooms, so you may be interested in visiting other employers while you wait.

How did this come about?

In April 2017, New York State enacted statewide reforms intended to improve the right to counsel for people charged with a criminal offense, who cannot afford to hire an attorney.

Amendments to New York County Law § 722-e and the addition of Executive Law § 832 (4) enacted by New York State Governor Cuomo and supported by the NYS legislature encourages and enables each criminal defense provider of legally mandated representation to furnish high quality, effective representation for every client. These recent legislative reforms offer public defense providers across the state the opportunity to hire additional attorneys, investigators, social workers and support staff and develop other resources to further their efforts in improving the overall quality of mandated representation.

Persons eager to explore opportunities within the New York State public defense arena who seek a challenging work environment that promotes diversity, embraces change, and provides leadership opportunities are encouraged to participate in this Public Defenders Career Fair.