Christina Santiago
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Christina spent the summer on the record for hearings on restaurant violations and grading at OATH offices throughout the city. In addition to holding her own cases, she also wrote appeals and compiled data on health code violations throughout the city. She completed the NYC Food Protection course; tagged along with Health Dept. inspectors to understand the work they do in order to better defend that work; and sat in on city council meetings re: New York City's approach to the Zika virus threat, Animal Care and Control expansion, and tobacco regulations. She said, “Definitely interesting, educational and fun! This experience has kept me on my toes!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sassy Dumornay and Diana Felberhaum
Suffolk County Attorney’s Office
Sassy Dumornay and Diana Felberhaum were summer legal interns for the Suffolk County Attorney’s Office. At the County Attorney’s Office, they worked closely with several Assistant County Attorneys. Throughout their internships, they conducted legal research, revised petitions, worked on Kendra cases, assisted with N-Docket (negligent) cases, and observed child support cases. They were also given the opportunity to watch arraignments and juvenile delinquency cases. Their favorite part of the summer internship was sitting in honorable Judge Crecca’s courtroom and observing domestic violence and divorce cases.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Huuthanh Lee
Legal Aid Society, Queens County Juvenile Rights Office
Huuthanh served as an intern with the Legal Aid Society, Queens County Juvenile Rights Office. He had the opportunity to assist a team of four staff attorneys in the practice and learn about the legal strategies involved in juvenile proceedings. He represented clients, under attorney supervision, at appearances before the Queens County Family Court. He also consulted with attorneys regarding settlement in cases. He interviewed clients, parents and collateral providers. He conducted home visits with clients and supervising attorney. He discussed issues arising from cases before the court with team staff attorneys. He observed bench trials, court proceedings and settlement conferences in child welfare and delinquency matters. He commented, “My work with the staff attorneys provided me with a great deal of insight into how to represent indigent clients, especially children, more effectively. My experiences as an intern with The Legal Aid Society reinforced the reasons why I chose to go to law school, while also providing me with many of the skills necessary to be an effective advocate for children and families. I had a truly rewarding experience working with the staff attorneys at the Queens County Juvenile Rights Office this summer.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jazmine Kendrick
Brooklyn Defender Services
Jazmine worked at Brooklyn Defender Services. She helped different teams of lawyers with trial prep for different cases ranging from attempted murder, rape in the first degree and assault. Pictured here, she is conducting legal research for an upcoming trial.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Katherine Base
Nassau County District Attorney’s Office
Katherine Base is a summer legal intern in the Nassau County DA’s Office. At the DA’s Office, she was placed in the DWI/DUI bureau and assists 7 ADA’s. Throughout the month of June, Katherine has had the opportunity to second seat trials, prepare discovery packets to turn over to defense attorneys, participate in the arraignments of defendants, and even speak on the record. Katherine also has had the opportunity to conference cases with fellow ADA’s, Legal Aid and the judge on numerous mornings. Just recently she conducted legal research and wrote a memorandum of law concerning an issue of Miranda Rights to submit directly to a judge from the District Court. She has not only had the opportunity to watch DWI/DUI trials, but has watched trials in different bureaus such as the domestic violence bureau, and even part of a homicide trial in Nassau County Court."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Larry Pisahov
Bronx County D.A.’s Office
Larry Pisahov was a summer legal intern in the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office. At the D.A.’s Office, he was placed in the Narcotics Bureau and assists over a dozen ADA’s. Throughout his experience, Larry was able to conduct legal research, present research findings, draft memoranda, prepare discovery, and attend conferences, arraignments, hearings, and trials. As part of the internship program, he also attended the D.A.’s Office Annual Picnic in Pomona and toured the NYPD Firing Range in Rodman’s Neck. Larry’s favorite part of the summer was representing the hard-working citizens of Bronx County and being able to make a positive difference in their community.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maria E. Feldman
Immigration Law Clinic
Maria worked in the Immigration Clinic at Touro Law Center. Her duties consist of assisting unaccompanied and undocumented children arriving in the U.S. to secure special juvenile immigrant status so that they can remain in the U.S. legally and pursue their education and career goals. She also conducted legal research; interviewed clients; prepared and filed petitions for appointment of guardianship in family court; and appeared at family court and immigration court hearings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marra Kassman
United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District, Criminal Division
Marra Kassman worked at the United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District, Criminal Division during her summer. She worked mostly on violent crimes cases, such as gangs and drug offenses. Marra listened to jail calls, sat in on inmate and cooperating witness proffer (interview) sessions, attended court with her assigned attorney, edited documents, and wrote sentencing letters to various Judges. Her favorite part of the summer was getting to be part of meetings with Homeland Security and FBI Agents, who provided the office with critical information about defendants.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael Borger
Long Island Advocacy Center
During the course of his internship at the Long Island Advocacy Center, Michael had the pleasure of working side-by-side with Michael Fronte, another LIAC intern in developing a community outreach campaign designed to inform families with special education children of their legal rights in school. We used our experience working directly with special needs children as well as conducting legal research on federal statutes, state regulations and case law to compile and simplify all of this information for parents in a comprehensive and interactive presentation. We are passionate about reaching out to these families and giving them the tools they need to best advocates for their children. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tyasia Chance
Brooklyn Defender Services
Tyasia chance spent the summer working at Brooklyn Defender Services (BDS). She enjoyed preparing for trial by going out on investigations, conducting client interviews in arraignments and DATs, prepping witnesses for trial and doing research/writing motions to assist attorneys with their clients. Tyasia said, “Working at BDS has definitely taught me what it means to wake up every morning and love what you do!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vitangelo Bitetto
Suffolk County Legal Aid Society
Vito interned at the Suffolk County Legal Aid Society working with Touro Alum Liz Justesen. As part of his work with her, Vito helped Touro Law Center launch a new pro bono initiative called Breaking Barriers, the first-ever re-entry program for formerly incarcerated residents in Suffolk County on Long Island. Breaking Barriers is the only program of its kind in the county and provides people with opportunities and knowledge to change their lives.

Barney Giannone worked in the Suffolk County DA's Office. He started in January with the criminal prosecution clinic and had his practice order extended into the summer. At DA's office he was tasked with conducting multiple hearings regarding probable cause, identification procedures, voluntariness of statements, refusal to submit to chemical tests and indigency hearings. He conducted direct and cross examinations and appeared on the record daily. Investigations, interviews and motion practice was also part of his daily routine. While in court, he would not only run the calendar, but make offers, negotiate deals, and make various applications to the court, including orders of protection on behalf of domestic violence victims.

Paula McFarlane worked with South Brooklyn Legal Services in the LGBT & HIV Unit where she assisted her supervising attorneys in providing legal assistance to both low-income and HIV positive individuals in areas such as housing, welfare benefits, and SSI/SSD. Work included: legal research, drafting of orders to show cause and motions, drafting and sending non-compliance complaint letters to HRA, shadowing attorneys at hearings and in housing court, attending trainings, meeting/corresponding with clients, assisting with client intakes, drafting an affidavit with a client, corresponding with client caseworkers, fair hearing agency representatives, landlord attorneys, and marshals. She said that the most memorable of her experience there was helping to conduct her first Medicaid Fair Hearing. The client was an 80 year old women who was getting personal care assistance to help her with her daily tasks due to her medical issues. HRA (Human Resources Administration) was trying to cut down her hours from 12 hours/week to 9 hours/week. Based on Paula's research and review of her medical records there was no valid argument to why they should cut down the clients hours since her illness had declined, rather than getting better. Paula argued this at the Fair Hearing and they were able to get the clients Personal Care Aid hours reinstated. Paula was gratified being able to help advocate for the client in a way that she was unable to do for herself. It also solidified that litigation is definitely something she wants to do.

Claire Persico has been working this summer in the matrimonial center - Nassau County Supreme Court, with the Honorable Stacy Bennett. The Matrimonial Center is a unique facility that houses all of the dedicated Matrimonial Parts for the Supreme Court, including the Model Custody Part. There are courtrooms for six Justices assigned to the Matrimonial Center, along with hearing rooms for Judicial Hearing Officers and Special Referees, all handling matrimonial matters. She has assisted with legal writing and research and she has observed various court proceedings.

This summer Kathleen Garveson worked at the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office in the Vehicular Crime Bureau. She helped the Assistant District Attorneys in that bureau with tasks such as legal research for memorandums, preparing discovery packets to turn over to defense attorneys, preparing different types of warrants, and attending court and chamber conferences. In addition, she was able to observe a homicide trial from opening statements through closing statements. She also participated in a DWI data project for the Bureau Chief and District Attorney.

Deena Rosenblatt worked in the Surrogate Court of the Rockland County Courthouse for the Honorable Thomas E. Walsh II. She reviewed cases, drafted orders, decisions, orders to show causes, and motions pertaining to Surrogate and Supreme Court issues. She conducted legal research, analysis, and assess related causes of action. Often times she conferred with litigants about cases and sit in on conferences. Additionally, she had the opportunity to observe all sorts of hearings and trials relating to criminal and civil matters.

Stephanie Hibbert worked this summer for the Senior Citizen Law Program at the Law Center where she interviewed elderly clients who lacked financial resources, were somewhat marginalized and needed legal assistance. Legal Assistance was needed in issues relating, but not limited to Torts, Social Insurance, Public Assistance, and Trusts and Estates. Client Intake Memorandums were prepared and legal research conducted. Legal Research ranged from Power of Attorney issues to Probate/Administration. She says that it was valuable knowledge and a unique experience because insight was gained on the realities of aging in our society while honing legal skills such as interviewing and legal research.

Tyasia Chance is spending the summer with the Law Offices of the Public Advocacy Center which she describes as nothing short of amazing. She assisted in many cases, mainly including landlord/tenant issues and uncontested divorces. While assisting in landlord/tenant cases, she has helped in drafting documents such as Attorney Affirmations and Orders to Show Cause and has had the opportunity to accompany the staff attorney to the Second District Court as well as Third, Fifth and Sixth Districts. While in court, she learned how to fill out Notice of Appearances as well as Stipulation forms. When handling divorce cases, she has assisted in drafting Affidavits and going to the Supreme Court across the street to file them with the Clerk. She has sat in on meetings with clients, set up appointments with them and interviewed them over the phone to see if they qualify for the uncontested divorce project. She has also assisted in drafting a Supplemental Needs Trust as part of the Last Will and Testament for a client. She has also participated in the restorative justice “circles” through the Center for Restorative Practices at the PAC.

This summer Thomas Tlockowski is working at Nassau Suffolk Legal Services. He is pictured here at Family Court submitting a Child Support Modification Petition. He is assigned to the Permanency Legal Assistance Needs Project (PLAN) which provides legal assistance to individuals and families affected by every type of cancer to cope with legal, financial and medical issues, including permanency planning. The Project includes a focus on clients with breast cancer. He explains that permanency planning consists of assisting families to develop a legally enforceable long-term plan for the care of children, and to assure that the client’s own wishes regarding end of life decisions are carried out through the designation of health care proxies, advance directives, powers of attorney and wills. The Project also handles problems with Medicaid, Medicare and private health insurance, and depending on resources, may be able to assist with SSI and Social Security Disability matters, long term disability problems and issues involving public assistance. There are no financial eligibility guidelines, but cases are prioritized based on urgency and program resources. Most recently, a collaborative grant with the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) has made it possible to launch a new medical legal partnership effort based at the Stony Brook Medical Group in East Setauket. Legal services are also provided to referred patients of Stony Brook’s Primary Care clinic in Patchogue and Good Samaritan’s Dialysis Unit. He works with a Law Services attorney together with the clinic staff to serve the clinic patients.