Mitigation Investigation: The Heart of Criminal Defense

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.