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Michael Scherz

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Michael Scherz is a lawyer and teacher who has been an advocate for vulnerable and marginalized populations throughout his thirty-year legal career.  

 

Michael is Director of the Domestic Violence Project at Lawyers for Children where he leads an interdisciplinary team that ensures children’s voices are heard, while also helping families repair harm and heal.  Before joining Lawyers for Children, Michael worked with several nonprofit organizations, including the Legal Aid Society, New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG), and New York Lawyers for the Public Interest.  He has litigated individual and class action cases to defend and protect children and families, older adults, people with disabilities, and immigrants’ rights.  He has represented individuals and families in legal issues relating to child welfare, government benefits, and other issues affecting people in poverty.  He has litigated class actions and affirmative litigation relating to child welfare, government benefits, rights of people with disabilities, and immigrants’ rights.  His advocacy on behalf of individuals and groups secured critical government benefits (including public assistance, Medicaid, food assistance, and Social Security) in state and federal administrative proceedings, as well as individual court and class action cases.

 

Michael teaches Social Justice Advocacy and Legal Services and Public Interest Law at Haub Law School (Pace University).  Before teaching at Haub Law, he taught criminal law, evidence, and other law classes at John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY). 

 

Michael chairs the NYC Bar Association’s Committee on Domestic Violence. He was a member of the Governor’s Blue-Ribbon Commission on Forensic Custody Evaluations; the Citywide Committee on Custody, Visitation, and Family Offense Proceedings in NYC Family Court.  He graduated from Columbia College and the City University of New York (CUNY) School of Law. 

Director, Domestic Violence Project, Lawyers for Children

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