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WHAT’S IN OUR NAME:FROM QUEENS LAW ASSOCIATESTO QUEENS DEFENDERSQueens Law Associates was founded in 1996 with eight attorneys and a small supportstaff. A quarter century later, we are truly a force for change in Queens, with nearly 200attorneys, social workers, investigators, paralegals, and support staff devoted to thepursuit of justice.As the scope of our services expanded and the landscape of the criminal justice systemchanged, we recognized the need for a name that describes our mission and spirit. In2020 we renamed our organization. This new name – Queens Defenders – builds onyears of success as an honest, reliable community partner and provider of high-qualitycommunity-based services. It reflects our borough-wide partnerships with colleagueswho share our goals and reinforces our commitment to success for every client throughsuperior free legal representation as well as prevention, education, and restorativejustice programs.We are Queens Defendersand we never give up.

LEGAL SERVICESOnce assigned to a criminal case, Queens Defenders’ highly skilled attorneysconduct investigations, interview witnesses, and engage in settlementconferences with the Queens County District Attorney’s Office and the Court.And if the case is not resolved during pre-trial conferencing, we zealouslydefend our clients at trial. We work diligently to limit the impact of a criminalrecord on employment, housing, education, and public benefits.Major Trials and HomicidesFamily DefenseThe expert attorneys in our Major TrialsDivision handle serious, complex, and highpublicity cases. They work closely withexperts, investigators, and social workersto ensure every client receives the bestdefense possible.This team handles criminal, family, andmarital matters that involve domesticviolence through the Queens IntegratedDomestic Violence Court. One primaryattorney works closely with investigators andsocial workers to ensure that both clientshave access to the services they need.Treatment CourtsJuvenile DefenseAttorneys work with defendants in QueensTreatment Court, DWI Court, Mental HealthCourt, Veterans Court, and the Drug Diversionand Treatment Courts. These courts employa therapeutic approach to cases andaim to address the underlying behaviorsand circumstances that contributed to theirillegal actions and arrests.Attorneys represent minors ages 7 - 17 inFamily Court, and in Raise the Age cases thatare removed to Family Court from the YouthPart of the Supreme Court. Our staff workclosely with social workers, clients, and theirfamilies to advocate for the best possibleoutcome, and provide support to help ouryoung clients develop critical life skillsand enhance educational and professionalopportunities to build successful lives.“I was charged with a major crime I did notcommit. Though my lawyers successfullyrepresented me against those false charges andthe repeated violation of my 4th, 5th, and 6thAmendment rights, this experience caused meto lose my job, my career, and most importantlythe safety of my family. Today, my mission is toensure that young people, especially youngblack and brown men, do not experience whatI went through.As a result, Queens Defenders launched theJustice 456 Initiative in 2020 to build awarenessof the Constitution’s 4th, 5th and 6th Amendmentrights in communities of color across theborough. More info on this initiative can befound at queensdefenders.org/justice-456.”– Oral “Nick” Hillary,Education Specialist25,000 Queens residentsare represented byQueens Defendersattorneyseach year.“I was born in Africa and came to the US with mymom when I was 10 years old. When I was 16, mymother just left – one day she went out and nevercame back. I went into a foster care group homeand joined a gang. Then I was arrested on threedifferent felony assault and robbery charges.The lawyer who represented me, AnthonyMartone, was and still is the nicest person I haveever met. I still call him My Lawyer. He got meout of Rikers almost immediately. The day I wasto be sentenced Queens Defenders employeesfilled the courtroom in support for me. The judgesentenced me to a conditional discharge, and Ido not have a criminal record.I started to work for Queens Defenders a fewdays a week while I got my GED, and I am nowworking at Queens Defenders fulltime as aParalegal and I was just accepted to college. Iwant to be a lawyer like Mr. Martone – someonewith a big heart who is committed to the bestfor his clients. I owe everything good in my life toMr. Martone and Queens Defenders. They are mysupporters, my friends, my family.”– Fatu Kamara,Former Youth Mentoring Program Participantand Current Paralegal

LEGAL SERVICESFelony YouthDefenseImmigrationSocial WorkServicesOur attorneys representyouth age 18 and youngercharged with felony offenses.Whenever possible, weadvocate for alternatives toincarceration and supportiveprograms that help youthdevelop their full capacity.We represent clients beforethe Immigration Court,the Board of ImmigrationAppeals, Federal DistrictCourt, and the SecondCircuit of Appeals. Ourlawyers protect and promoteimmigrants’ rights bydefending them againstdeportation and advocatingfor asylum, green cards, andother benefits.Our licensed forensic socialworkers support clients’ casesby advocating in court forfavorable rulings. They alsoconnect clients to servicesincluding mental health andsubstance use treatment,anger management,alternatives to incarceration,vocational/educationalprograms, batterers’interventions, and more.“I learned about Queens Defenders the firsttime I participated in a Youth Justice Court atthe Queens Library. At that time, I was hangingout with the wrong crew and I wanted tochange my life, make better decisions, and geton the right path.They gave me an opportunity to join the YoungAdult Leaders Program as a Homework Helperand it has turned my life around. Participating inthis program has taught me there are other waysto get through life. I am happy. I am proud ofmyself. I feel like something changed in me, andthat I am part of something.As a Young Adult Leader and a mentor, I showwhat I am about everywhere I go. Every timeI have my Queens Defenders shirt on, I amdedicated, I am part of the team, I feel goodbecause I earned it, I worked hard for it, and Igot it.”“I enrolled in a Queens Defenders Youth JusticeC ourt program at a local branch of theQueens Library when I was 15. YJC trainsyoung people to take on the responsibilitiesof each courtroom participant – judge, jurymember, defender, prosecutor. Teenagers whocommit misdemeanors learn to understand theconsequences of their actions throughYJC hearings and redeem themselvesthrough community service.I was hooked on the first day! Five years later,I have just completed my second year as apre-law student at John Jay College and I workfulltime at Queens Defenders, delivering theYJC program myself in the same library whereI first learned about it.”– Alexandra Braithwaite,Youth Justice Court Coordinator– Michael Osemwengie,Young Adult Leader77 QueensDefenders felonyyouth cases weretransferred fromthe Criminalto Family Courtin 2019.2,700immigrantsreceived legalservices fromQueens Defendersin 2019.OurSocial Workerssupported over525 legal servicesclients in 2019.Everyparticipant in ourYouth Programsset a goal ofgraduating highschool andenrolling in collegeor vocationaltraining.

COMMUNITY OUTREACHYouth enterSchool-basedProgramsSt. John’s Residencefor BoysKnow YourRights WorkshopDomestic Violence& Empowerment(DoVE) ProgramAs an alternative tosuspension, criminaland family courtappearances, andpotential violationsof probations, youthwho commit lowlevel infractions canappear in ourYouth Justice Courtbefore studentstrained as judges,prosecutors, defenseattorneys, and juries.Providing our younglegal clients withopportunities towork, gain new skills,interact with caringadult mentors, andfeel a sense of pridein accomplishment isthe best restorativejustice. Most of ouryoung people havegone on to careersin law and otherprofessions.The Outreach Centerserves as a safespace where youngpeople participate inrecreational activities,homework help, andcollege and careerreadiness programs.Our Young AdultLeaders learn aboutcivic engagementand plan for theirfutures under theguidance of ouryouth program staff.We also offer socialservices referrals forhousing, immigration,and domesticviolence issues.We provide classeson career and collegereadiness and civiland criminal lawand lead restorativejustice circles toprevent suspensionsand organizeviolence preventionassemblies. WithQueens PublicLibrary, we deliver adiversion program foryouth who commitlow-level offenses.We partner with RockawayPark’s St. John’s Residencefor Boys to help young menresiding in this Close toHome placement developskills and confidence, learnabout the justice system andhow it impacts them andtheir community, and learnabout crucial college andcareer readiness skills thatwill help them set goals andrealize their full potential.These workshops focus oncivil rights, immigration,domestic violence, andother critical areas wherepeople need accurateinformation to protectthemselves and safeguardConstitutional liberties.Additionally, our attorneysprovide representation forDMV hearings, HPD hearings,tenant-landlord disputes,and related legal matters.Supported by the NewYork City Council’s DoVEInitiative and in partnershipwith Safe Horizon and theNYPD 101st precinct, thisprogram provides intensive,personalized support forsurvivors of domesticviolence and their childrenand facilitates connectionswith shelters and supportservices.Over 5,000people visitedthe RockawayOutreach Centerin itsfirst year.Queens Defendersexpanded its YouthJustice Courtprogram to the St.John’s Residencefor Boys in 2020.170 Rockawaystudents have beentrained as YouthJustice Court staffsince 2010.4,000 youth andadults in the Rockawaysare served by QueensDefenders’ domesticviolence program eachyear with prevention,awareness building, andemergency assistanceservices.