Assistant Professor of Clinical Legal Education Director, Defense and Advocacy Clinic
J.D. Georgetown University Law Center B.A. Georgetown University
Martin J. LaFalce joined the St. John's Law School faculty in 2022 as an Assistant Professor of Clinical Legal Education and Director of the Defense and Advocacy Clinic.
Professor LaFalce spent 14 years as a public defender at the Legal Aid Society. He began his career representing clients at Rikers Island charged with violating the conditions of their parole. In that role, he pursued impact litigation that led the Appellate Division, First Department to strike down the New York State Board of Parole’s draconian board review procedure, a procedure that allowed parole commissioners to unilaterally imprison New Yorkers without affording them a hearing.
Professor LaFalce also worked as trial attorney in Manhattan for 10 years, representing New Yorkers charged with crimes ranging from low level marijuana possession to murder. While working as a trial attorney in Manhattan, Professor LaFalce teamed with Legal Aid colleagues, community activists, and state legislators to repeal New York State's discriminatory gravity knife law.
Most recently, Professor LaFalce worked as a policy attorney in Legal Aid’s Criminal Defense Practice, coordinating their legislative reform agenda before the New York City Council and New York State Legislature.
Professor LaFalce previously served as an adjunct professor at St. John’s, teaching Criminal Procedure: Investigations in 2018 and 2020. He is thrilled to be a part of the St. John's community full time and is currently teaching Criminal Law.