Current Employment Position(s)

Sole Practitioner

Languages

• Spanish
• Polish
• Hebrew
• French
• German

Lawyer Overview

Since 1977, I have focused on providing professional representation to my clients. I am personally responsible for all aspects of the preparation, investigation, settlement and trial of my cases. I have tried at least 1,200 matters and I have represented thousands of clients in almost every aspect of trial advocacy, including criminal defense, real estate trial matters, administrative law, copyright infringement, commercial disputes, social security disability, contract actions, professional disciplinary matters, and contested estate proceedings. I have examined thousands of witnesses at hearings and trials.

Before entering private practice, I gained my initial trial experience as a Criminal Trial Lawyer in the Criminal Defense Division of the Legal Aid Society. There, I was fortunate enough to try at least 100 cases. That was also where I gained the experience of representing many thousands of defendants charged with various crimes. Before working for the Legal Aid Society, I was privileged to work in the offices of the District Attorneys of New York County and Queens County, where I was able to learn about criminal law from the prosecutorial perspective. Knowing how prosecutors think makes one a more effective advocate.

While I earn my living as a lawyer, I am also involved in numerous pro-bono legal activities. For the past 5 years, I have served the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York as a Certified Mediator. For more than 18 years, I have had the opportunity to serve in the Queens County Supreme Court as a Receiver and as a Referee and, more recently, as a Fee Dispute Arbitrator and a Grievance Mediator as well. In the Queens Civil Court I have been a Small Claims Court Arbitrator for more than 25 years.

From 1984 to 1988, I worked part-time as a Counsel and Legislative Aide to the New York State Assembly. I am proud that I had the honor of working for one of the greatest legislators of our state, former Speaker of the Assembly Saul Weprin.

I am admitted to the state courts of New York and New Jersey, the United States Supreme Court and numerous United States District Courts in New York and New Jersey. I have been admitted pro hoc vice in several other states. I am also a member and participant of many bar and professional associations.

Areas of Practice

• White Collar Crimes
• Criminal Defense
• Arraignments
• Arrests
• Arson
• Assault
• Burglary
• Central Booking Appearances
• Credit Card Crimes
• Death Penalty Cases
• Drunk Driving
• Extortion
• Family Court Offenses
• Fraud
• Guns
• Identity Theft
• Kidnapping
• Larceny
• Medicaid and Medicare Fraud
• Murder
• Narcotics
• Professional Disciplinary Matters
• Robbery
• Sex Crimes

West Practice Categories

Admiralty & Maritime Law, Criminal Law, Criminal Fraud, Drug Violations, Pensions, Benefits & Compensations -- Employee, Pensions, Benefits & Compensations -- Employer, Ethics & Professional Responsibility, Family Law, Government Agencies & Programs, Health & Health Care Law, Insurance Law, Professional Malpractice Law, Transportation Law

Bar Admissions

• New Jersey
• New York
• U.S. District Court District of New Jersey
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York
• U.S. District Court Southern District of New York
• U.S. Supreme Court

Certification/Specialties

• Certified Mediator, United States District Court - Eastern District of New York, 1997

Professional Associations and Memberships

• New York State Bar Association, 1980 - Present
• Queens County Bar Association
• Queens Criminal Courts Bar Association, 1976 - Present
• Brandeis Association
• New York Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Honors and Awards

• Participant in White House Conference on the Middle East 10-12-89

Classes and Seminars

• Speaker, Assembly Saul Weprin and Deputy Majority Leader, New York State Assembly, 1984 - 1988

Past Employment Positions

• New York State Assembly, Counsel and Legislative Aide, 1984 - 1988
• United States District Court - Eastern District of New York, Early Neutral Evaluator, 1997
• Supreme Court: Queens County, Receiver and Referee, 1990 - 1999
• Civil Court: Queens County, Small Claims Court Arbitrator, 1987
• New York State Assembly, Counsel and Legislative Aide, 1984 - 1988
• Legal Aid Society: Criminal Defense Division, Trial Attorney, 1977 - 1981

Education

• Brooklyn Law School, Brooklyn, New York, June, 1976
  Juris Doctor
• Yeshiva University, 1973
  Rabbinic Law
• Queens College of the City University of New York, Flushing, New York, June, 1971
  Bachelor of Arts

Offers Free Initial Consultation

Accepts Credit Cards

Published Works

• Arraignments QCBA Journal, February, 1989

Address

109-01 72nd Road
Suite 1A
Forest Hills, NY 11375-5369

Phones

718-414-6216

Faxes

(718) 575-5030

Emails

Contact Us (Stephan J. Siegel)
Contact Us (Julianne S. Cohen, Legal Assistant)

Websites

http://www.newyorktriallaw.com
http://www.queenscriminaldefenselaw.com