Events

Thursday, May 21, 2026 from 4:15 – 6:30 PM HYBRID (In-Person and Virtual) Webinar

For over 20 years, Richard Ware Levitt has comprehensively reviewed each year’s important Second Circuit criminal law and procedure decisions. His masterful presentation includes his highly useful survey of court reversal rates, broken down by year, judge and primary author. The program also covers significant related cases from other circuits and district courts and US Supreme Court decisions. This session is a must for all serious advocates, especially those in federal practice. As always, it is enlivened by Mr. Levitt’s entertaining graphics, ‘Name That Tune’ quizzes and thoroughly engaging presentation style.

This is a HYBRID program, presented in-person at the Moynihan US District Courthouse, 500 Pearl Street, New York, NY 10007, and virtually over Zoom. The program has been approved for a maximum of two (2) NY State MCLE credit hours in Areas of Professional Practice. It is open to experienced and newly admitted attorneys alike.

This program is presented FREE of charge for current 2026 NY Criminal Bar Association members, institutional defenders and unemployed attorneys. All others must either join the NY Criminal Bar Association (and receive this and every 2026 CLE for free) or pay the program fee of $64.99. Members of the 18-B and CJA panels may pay a discounted program fee of $49.99. (Financial aid is available for this program. Kindly consult the ‘Guide to New York Criminal Bar Association Financial Aid’ on our website or attached to the program flyer for further information.) Program registrations for non-NY Criminal Bar members, institutional defenders or unemployed attorneys will not be approved until the regular or discounted program fee is paid.

June 11, 2026 from 4:30 – 6:30 PM, HYBRID (In-Person and Virtual) Webinar over Zoom

A Hybrid CLE Program, offered Live at the Moynihan U.S. District Courthouse, Southern District of New York, 500 Pearl Street, Conference Center Room 6A, New York, NY 10007, and Virtually over Zoom to those who cannot attend the session in person

Understanding your client’s context, functioning, history, and potential can lead to better outcomes- whether your client is facing life without parole or something less severe. But how should the defense collect this information, decide what is relevant, and effectively use the evidence uncovered?

In this important, useful and engaging session, Dr. Elizabeth Vartkessian, Executive Director of Advancing Real Change, Inc., will draw upon her decades of experience as a mitigation specialist working across the nation and stories from her new book, The Deserving: What the Lives of the Condemned Reveal About American Justice, to provide an overview of mitigation practices and tools that can transform outcomes for your clients. Dr. Vartkessian and ARC has generously agreed to make copies of her book available to program attendees at a discounted price.

The New York Criminal Bar Association has been certified by the New York State Continuing Legal Education Board as an Accredited Provider of continuing legal education. This program has been approved in accordance with the requirements of the New York State Continuing Legal Education Board for a maximum of two (2) credit hours, which can be applied toward the Areas of Professional Practice requirement. This program is open to experienced and newly admitted attorneys alike.

It is FREE of charge for all Current 2026 NY Criminal Bar Association members, institutional defender office attorneys and unemployed attorneys NOMINAL PROGRAM FEE for all others: $39.99 DISCOUNTED PROGRAM FEE: $29.99 for 18-B and CJA Panel Members Financial Aid for this program is available. Please consult ‘Guide to New York Criminal Bar Association Financial Aid’ on the program flyer or on our website (nycrimbar.org) for further information.

The New York Criminal Bar Association cordially invites you to attend our Annual Dinner on June 15, 2026, Honoring:

Benjamin Brafman, Esq. with the Honorable Robert Louis Cohen Award For Professional Excellence.

Speaker of Honor:
The Honorable Alison J. Nathan
United States Circuit Judge
United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

Ticket prices are $300 for individual tickets and $2750 for tables of 10.

We are thrilled to honor Ben, a legend of the criminal defense bar, for his decades of accomplishments and contributions to our community.

VIEW DETAILS & PURCHASE TICKETS »

June 24, 2026 from 4:30 – 6:30 PM, HYBRID (In-Person and Virtual) Webinar over Zoom

A Hybrid CLE Program, offered Live at the Moynihan U.S. District Courthouse, Southern District of New York, 500 Pearl Street, Conference Center Room 6A, New York, NY 10007, and Virtually over Zoom to those who cannot attend the session in person

This outstanding training program is designed for criminal defense attorneys navigating the rapid integration of artificial intelligence into legal practice. Offered in a hybrid live and virtual format, this two-hour session addresses both the ethical framework governing AI use under the Model Rules of Professional Conduct and the practical skills attorneys need to deploy these tools responsibly. Topics include competence and supervision obligations under Rules 1.1 and 5.3, the hallucinated-citation crisis implicating Rule 3.3’s candor requirements, confidentiality considerations when working with AI vendors under Rule 1.6, and emerging state bar guidance shaping the landscape.

Beyond ethics, the program offers hands-on skills training covering AI-assisted legal research, motion and brief drafting, discovery review, evidence chronology building, and trial preparation — along with critical guidance on knowing when not to rely on AI. Attendees will see a live demonstration of OurFirm.ai, an AI-powered litigation intelligence platform built by a trial attorney for litigators, featuring real-time research and drafting tools, automated citation verification, discovery review, and AI-driven simulations for testing strategy and arguments.

The New York Criminal Bar Association has been certified by the New York State Continuing Legal Education Board as an Accredited Provider of continuing legal education. This program has been approved in accordance with the requirements of the New York State Continuing Legal Education Board for a maximum of one (1.0) credit hour which can be applied toward the Cybersecurity, Privacy and Data Protection – Ethics or Ethics requirement, and one (1.0) credit hour which can be applied toward the Skills requirement. This program is open to experienced and newly admitted attorneys alike, however newly admitted (‘Bridge the Gap’) attorneys must attend in person to receive Skills credit.

It is FREE of charge for all Current 2026 NY Criminal Bar Association members, institutional defender office attorneys and unemployed attorneys NOMINAL PROGRAM FEE for all others: $39.99 DISCOUNTED PROGRAM FEE: $29.99 for 18-B and CJA Panel Members Financial Aid for this program is available. Please consult ‘Guide to New York Criminal Bar Association Financial Aid’ on the program flyer or on our website (nycrimbar.org) for further information.