Pearls of Wisdom: 30 Years of UB Law Clinics Confronting Family Violence in Western New York and Beyond
The Family Violence and Women’s Rights Clinic turns 30 years old in 2022!
Friday, April 1, 2022
The Family Violence and Women’s Rights Clinic is the longest-running domestic violence related law school clinic in New York State. To commemorate this milestone, we hosted the virtual and in-person conference, Pearls of Wisdom: 30 Years of UB Law Clinics Confronting Family Violence in Western New York and Beyond.
Keynote speaker Joan Meier, Professor of Clinical Law and Director of the National Family Violence Law Center at the George Washington University Law School, shared the results of her groundbreaking research on child custody outcomes in cases involving parental alienation and abuse allegations.
Sessions explored working with domestic violence survivors from underserved communities, the newly passed Domestic Violence Survivor’s Justice Act, and the impact of Covid-19 on system-wide responses to domestic violence.
There was a luncheon and awards ceremony, as well as poster presentations about important community initiatives.
On this page:
If you are a UB School of Law graduate, please consider completing our
"Pearls of Wisdom - Clinic Alumni Survey."
Conference Agenda
(As of March 25, 2022)
8:30 – 9:00 a.m. – Conference Registration
9:00 - 9:30 a.m. - Welcome and Opening Remarks
(Ret.) Hon. Lisa Bloch Rodwin (Master of Ceremonies)
Dean Aviva Abramovsky, University at Buffalo School of Law
Hon. Kevin M. Carter, District Administrative Judge of the Eighth Judicial District
April N.M. Baskin, Chairwoman of the Erie County Legislature/ Representative County District 2
9:30 - 10:30 a.m. - Keynote Speaker/ Plenary
Professor Joan S. Meier, Clinical Professor of Law
Director of the National Family Violence Law Center
George Washington University Law School
Download: Bio / Materials
10:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. - Session 1: Working with DV Survivors from Underserved Populations Panel
Dr. Noelle M. St. Vil, Assistant Professor, University at Buffalo School of Social Work
Sophie Feal, Esq., Supervising Immigration Attorney of the WNY Regional Immigration Assistance Center at the Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo
Nancy Abdelhaq, Executive Director, RAHMA
Tiffany Pavone, Esq., Director of Victim Services & Advocacy Programs at Community Services for Every1
Moderator: Hon. Mary Carney, 8th JD Erie County Family Court
Download: Bio / Materials
12:15 - 1:30 p.m. - Lunch, Awards, Luncheon Speaker Session
Kelli Owens, Executive Director, Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence
Download: Bio / Materials
1:30 - 2:45 p.m. - Session 2: Domestic Violence Survivor’s Justice Act Panel
Dr. Catherine Cerulli, Professor of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center
Professor Alexandra Harrington, Associate Professor, University at Buffalo School of Law Director, Criminal Justice Advocacy Clinic
Lynette Reda, Assistant District Attorney, Erie County District Attorney’s Office
Moderator: Professor Judith Olin, Clinical Professor, University at Buffalo School of Law Director, Family Violence & Women’s Rights Clinic
Download: Bio / Materials
2:45 - 3:15 p.m. - Coffee/Tea Break and Poster Presentations
3:15 - 4:30 p.m. - Session 3: The Impact of COVID-19 on Working with DV Survivors Panel
Hon. Deborah A. Haendiges, Supreme Court Justice, 8th JD Erie County
Mary Travers Murphy, Chief Executive Officer, Family Justice Center
Andrew Emborsky, Esq., Supervising Attorney, Family Law Unit,
Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc.
Lana Tupchik, Esq., Tupchik Legal Group, PLLC
Michele A. Brown, Esq., Chief Attorney for Children, Children’s Legal Center
Moderator: Professor Michael Boucai, University at Buffalo School of Law
Download: Bio / Materials
4:30 - 4:45 p.m. - Closing Remarks – Gov. Kathy Hochul by video
Download: Bio
* Additional Speakers to be Announced as Confirmed
NYS CLE and NYS CEU Information
NYS CLE: Attorneys who attend may receive a total of 6.0 NYS CLE credits. Experienced attorneys may earn up to 2.5 NYS CLE credits in the area of Professional Practice (transitional or non-transitional credit); 2.0 NYS CLE credits in the area of Skills (transitional or non-transitional credit), and 1.5 NYS CLE credits in the area of Diversity, Inclusion and Elimination of Bias (non-transitional only). Newly Admitted Attorneys may earn 2.5 NYS CLE credits in the area of Professional Practice and 3.5 CLE credits in Skills.
The University at Buffalo School of Law has been certified by the New York State Continuing Legal Education Board as an Accredited Provider of continuing legal education in the State of New York for the period of March 11, 2020 - March 10, 2023.
The law school has a financial hardship policy. For further information, contact Lisa Mueller, CLE Coordinator at lmueller@buffalo.edu.
For further information on the law school’s CLE policy, contact Lisa Mueller at lmueller@buffalo.edu or 716-645-3176.
NYS CEU: The University at Buffalo School of Law is partnering with the University at Buffalo School of Social Work, Office of Continuing Education, which is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0001.