The Hunter College Pre-Law Program welcomed Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz for its most recent “On the Docket” speaker event on March 25.
Katz’s high-energy talk opened with a discussion of the responsibility of her office to provide equal justice.
A notable moment came when a student asked, “What initiatives have you introduced to ensure that the diverse communities of Queens feel represented and protected by the District Attorney’s office?”
Katz emphasized how her office outreach is shaped by sensitivity to the vast diversity of Queens County, which has a population drawn from more than 120 countries, and that speaks more than 800 languages.
Students asked about reforms the office has introduced since Katz took office in January 2020, including the institution of a Cold Case Unit, Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau, 24/7 Domestic Violence Helpline, Human Trafficking Bureau, and Conviction Integrity Unit.
Katz elaborated on the impact of the Conviction Integrity Unit, sharing how it has vacated more than 100 wrongful convictions, including the case of a teenager who spent more than eight years in prison before exoneration. Katz also discussed community centered strategies for reaching domestic-violence and human-trafficking victims.
Students were also curious about how much discretion the office has in bringing cases. Katz said that the work of an attorney is driven first and foremost by facts.
Following the conversation, Senior Deputy Bureau Chief of Legal Hiring Pamela Byer and Director of Litigation Training and Legal Hiring Courtney Finnerty talked about jobs at the Queens DA’s office, including roles for college graduates to gain experience before law school, law-student internships, and the work of career attorneys.
A long-time public servant, Katz served as Borough President of Queens from 2014 to 2019; as New York City Councilmember from 2002 to 2009; and as New York State Assembly member from 1994 to 1999. A Queens County native, Katz is a graduate of St. John’s University School of Law and attended Hillcrest High School.
The Pre-Law Program “On the Docket Series” features the distinguished legal career paths of alumni and friends of Hunter College. Earlier “On the Docket” events have included Moroccan-born Hunter and Harvard Law graduate Amal El Bakhar, a partner at white-shoe firm Kirkland & Ellis; and Edgar De Leon, a graduate of Hunter and Fordham University School of Law who formerly served on the NYPD investigating hate-motivated crimes and corruption allegations.
Reflecting Hunter’s commitment as an anchor institution that trains students for high-impact lives in their communities, graduates of Hunter’s Pre-Law Program pursue rewarding careers in advocacy, private practice, and public service.
Hunter routinely sends students to the 13 law schools in the New York metropolitan area and other law schools across the nation. Hunter students have big dreams; the goal of the Pre-Law Program is to make students aware of the opportunities available to them. Any student or alum can make an appointment for a one-on-one discussion with Pre-Law Adviser Elise Jaffe about planning for law school and a legal career.
