On Demand
Audio
Making an Initial Appearance in a NY Criminal Case in the COVID-19 Era
Produced on November 30, 2020
Course Information
Course Description
COVID-19 has impacted every aspect of human life. In response, institutions and organizations, both public and private, have implemented new safety precautions and procedures. As the Courts across New York State and the United States begin to re-open, procedures, policies, and practices have taken on a different look in order to conform to the new COVID-19 era.
In criminal matters, every aspect of a case has changed - starting with the initial appearance. In order to provide effective assistance of counsel, criminal defense attorneys need to learn how to adapt to the new and often remote way of conducting an initial appearance and find ways to complete the required tasks.
This course, presented by Andrew M. J. Bernstein, Leader of Sichenzia Ross Ference LLP’s White-Collar Defense and Investigations Practice, will cover the basics of representing a criminal defendant at a remote or in-person initial appearance (initial presentments and arraignments) in a criminal matter during the age of COVID-19.
This program will benefit both new criminal practitioners looking to learn about remote and in-person initial appearances and experienced criminal defense lawyers who have yet to represent a recently arrested or charged client in the COVID-19 era.
Learning Objectives:
- Discuss how initial presentments and arraignments have been affected by COVID-19 and the resulting safety measures put in place by the courts
- Prepare for an initial appearance in a criminal matter
- Investigate the information you need prior to your initial appearance
- Build a meaningful relationship with your client remotely and in challenging times
- Successfully navigate the COVID-19 challenges and effectively represent your client at their first appearance and beyond
Credit Information
Faculty
Andrew Bernstein
Sichenzia Ross Ference LLP
Andrew M. J. Bernstein is a Partner and Chair of the White-Collar Defense and Investigations Practice at Sichenzia Ross Ference LLP, a full-service corporate, securities, and litigation law firm with offices in New York City and Israel.
Andrew is an experienced federal and state trial lawyer. His practice focuses on white-collar criminal defense, government and internal investigations, representing licensed professionals in misconduct and disciplinary proceedings, and advising corporations on regulatory matters and in commercial transactions. He has tried over twenty-five criminal cases to verdict in federal and state courts, ranging from allegations of fraud, embezzlement, conspiracy, racketeering, and money laundering to murder and federal weapons possession. In addition to his trial and pre-trial litigation successes, Andrew has helped many clients under government investigation or subpoena avoid criminal charges and other sanctions altogether.
Andrew represents corporations across a broad spectrum of industries. His diverse individual clientele includes corporate officers, directors, members of the financial services industry as well as doctors, lawyers, artists and musicians. Andrew frequently represents individuals and corporations who are the target of a grand jury or regulatory investigation or have been served with a grand jury or trial subpoena. Additionally, Andrew is a member of the federal Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Panels for both the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.
Prior to joining Sichenzia Ross Ference LLP, Andrew was a founding Partner of a boutique criminal defense and civil rights litigation firm. Before entering private practice, Andrew began his legal career as a Trial Attorney at The Legal Aid Society’s Manhattan Criminal Defense Practice, where he represented over 1,500 criminal defendants.
Andrew frequently lectures on all matters of criminal defense with a particular focus on defending against white-collar investigations and representing corporations and individuals subpoenaed to appear before federal and state grand juries. In 2020, he has lectured extensively for the New York State Bar Association and Lawline on topics concerning grand juries and investigations. Andrew is a faculty member of the New York State Bar Association’s Trial Academy, held yearly at Cornell Law School. For the past few years, Andrew has hosted a series of criminal defense CLEs in New York City entitled “Being Heard at Hearings,” which featured some of the top criminal defense practitioners in the metro area. He has also guest lectured at Cardozo School of Law and Touro Law School and has previously served as a faculty member at The Legal Aid Society’s New Lawyer Training Program.
Andrew graduated with honors from Touro Law School in 2011, where he was the Editor-in-Chief of the Moot Court and recipient of multiple graduation awards for academic achievement and student leadership. While in law school, Andrew was a Research Assistant to noted criminal defense and human rights lawyer and Distinguished Professor of Law, Richard Daniel Klein. He earned his bachelors degree in Crime, Law & Justice from The Pennsylvania State University in 2006.
Reviews
Great presentation for a unique time.