Left: David C. Schopp, CEO, Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc., Lisa M. Patterson, Vice Dean for Career Services 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, Vice Dean for Career Services. (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, October 29, 2021,
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 716-645-2056.

If you are a law student or recent graduate,
there is still time to register online!

Join Us

Gathering Hall
11/2/21
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 Room
10/29/21
Come here for information, networking, advice, ideas and inspiration.
Interview Center
11/2/21
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.

What You Will Find

We are excited to welcome you to a robust virtual experience. Registered employers will be receiving applicant resumes a week in advance of the fair.

After registering, you will receive a live link prior to the event. In the meantime, make sure your zoom software is updated, polish your interviewing skills and get ready for a great time!

Here’s what you can expect on the day of the career fair.

A Central Gathering Room

For networking with other attendees, getting tech help, asking questions and seeking advice.

Welcome Videos

Welcome videos from hosts:

The New York State Office of Indigent Legal Services, The Chief Defenders Association of New York, The New York State Defenders Association, and The University at Buffalo School of Law.

Live Panel Discussions

(Discussions will be recorded and available after the event.)

Topics will include:

What Are we Looking For?: Executive Directors chime in on what qualities impress them the most
(Will be presented live earlier in the week, with the recording available immediately afterward)
How COVID has Affected Public Defense in NYS: From caseloads to working arrangements, what’s the current “normal”?
Complementary Skills: Hear from PDs who have backgrounds in other fields, including Social Work and Forensic Science
A Day in the Life of a New Public Defender: 2021 Edition

As a preview, watch last year's panels:

Day-Long Informational Tables

NYS ILS, CDANY and NYSDA will be available to discuss such topics as:

Appellate Work
Family Court and AFC Cases
Juvenile Defense
Financial Services and Loan Forgiveness

Employer Tables

An ever-expanding list of statewide public defenders, each with their own zoom room, waiting to talk to you! Each room will have available chat functions and breakout rooms for group discussions and individual short interviews.

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.