Since 2015, the DNA Unit of the Legal Aid Society in New York City has held an annual, two-day forensic conference for defense attorneys called Questioning Forensics. The audience is typically ~100-200 defense attorneys from around the United States. Lawyers, scientists, and policy advocates speak on topics of interest to the defense community—everything to basics of DNA transfer to Bayesian networks, to cross examination techniques to litigating trade secrets. Conference themes in the past have included how to litigate a forensic DNA case, the PCAST report, and the NIST Mixture Foundation Review. Speakers have ranged from scientists and academics to practicing attorneys.

This year, our 8th Questioning Forensics is titled A juror, an expert & an algorithm walk into a courtroom: Miscommunication in forensics and will focus on misleading testimony and the role of human factors in forensics.  It will be held in-person in NYC on March 23 and 24 at the City of New York Law School in Queens, New York (CUNY).

This conference is for Defense Attorneys only.

Registration Is Open

• Private Attorney – $250
• 18B or Public Defender (Individual Rate) – $125
• Public Defender (Bulk Rate, 3 or more staff from the same office) – $100
• LAS Staff & Student Interns/Volunteers – Free

Click here to register.

Click here for a schedule of events and click here to meet this year’s speakers.

Accommodations

Legal Aid has secured a group discount at Aloft Long Island City. Rooms are limited and are available on first come first serve basis. Please register prior to March 20th. Book now.

Contact Us

For questions about registration, need-based scholarship, or for more information about this year’s conference email Jessica Goldthwaite The Legal Aid Society’s DNA Unit.