Criminal Justice Advocacy Clinic
The Criminal Justice Advocacy Clinic provides students with an opportunity to represent incarcerated individuals in second-look proceedings and to advocate for criminal system reforms in New York State.
The clinic serves to expand criminal defense and reform capacity in Western New York. Student attorneys in the Criminal Justice Advocacy Clinic will take the lead on client casework on behalf of incarcerated individuals, in addition to policy advocacy.
Student attorneys represent incarcerated individuals in second-look proceedings. For their first semester, students will represent clients seeking resentencing under the 2019 Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act, preparing for hearings before the Board of Parole, or appealing parole or resentencing denials. Student attorneys will be assigned a client and will work on preparing their clients’ resentencing applications, parole packet, or appeal, as well as exploring other avenues of relief. Student attorneys will also work on a policy advocacy matter. Clinic work will involve visiting clients incarcerated in New York correctional facilities. Clinic students must have availability on Fridays to visit with clients.
Alexandra Harrington
Director of the Criminal Justice Advocacy Clinic; Director of the Innocence and Justice Project; Associate Professor
Clinical Legal Education
Annabel Mireles
Clinical Adjunct Faculty/Staff Attorney
Clinical Legal Education
Jerome Wright
Parole Reform Consultant
Clinical Legal Education
507 O'Brian Hall
Phone: 716-645-2167
Carmen Cong
Social Work Consultant
Clinical Legal Education
507 O'Brian Hall
Phone: 716-645-2167
Lila Rollo
Social Work Consultant
Clinical Legal Education
507 O'Brian Hall
Phone: 716-645-2167
Our clinic is one of a small, growing number across the country that has developed a partnership with social workers in order to better represent clients. We work with two social work consultants, both former UB Master of Social Work student interns with the clinic. These two social workers have years of experience between them and provide crucial expertise for the work of the clinic. They have developed a robust model of reentry planning for parole applicants and of support and preparation assistance for clients working through the parole and resentencing process.