Title: Staff Attorney
Company: Legal Aid Society
Location: Jersey City, New Jersey, United States
Edlyn L. Willer, staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Lawyers for dedication, achievements, and leadership in legal services.
With nearly three decades of experience, Ms. Willer has excelled in the legal field, specializing in both civil and criminal practices. Since 1996, she has served as a staff attorney for the Legal Aid Society of New York City. In this role, she represents tenants in landlord/tenant disputes and claimants in social security disability proceedings and provides general practice and community outreach services. Her responsibilities include conducting home visits, negotiating settlements in housing court matters, and supervising volunteer attorneys. From 1996 to 2002, she focused on criminal practice, reviewing trial transcripts, developing appellate issues, writing appellate briefs, and arguing criminal appeals before the Appellate and Federal District Courts of New York. She also defended clients charged with misdemeanors and petty offenses, made bail applications, and negotiated plea agreements. Since 2002, her focus has shifted to civil practice, engaging in community outreach and advising on legal matters such as immigration, family law, and public benefits.
Before joining the Legal Aid Society, Ms. Willer gained valuable experience during law school. She worked with Public Defender Services in 1995, interviewing and preparing clients for trial, and researching and writing pre-trial motions. In 1994, she interned at Latronico & Whitestone, where she worked on legal memoranda and summary judgment motions for cases involving insurance liability and wrongful death. Additionally, she served as a legal intern for the New York State Supreme Court under the Honorable Clifford A. Scott in 1993. Beyond her legal career, she actively participates in civic activities, including the Wounded Warrior Project and local charity sponsorships. Laying a solid foundation for her success, she earned a Bachelor of Science in health services administration from CUNY-Herbert H. Lehman College in 1991, and went on to obtain a Juris Doctor in Law from Northeastern University School of Law in 1995.
Reflecting on her career, Ms. Willer initially focused on housing, where she represented clients in housing court and assisted them in retaining their homes. She later transitioned to community outreach, collaborating with three different organizations. In this role, she dedicated her time to listening to individuals’ grievances, providing advice, and guiding them on the next steps. When cases fell under the purview of legal aid, she would take them up personally. For the past 15 years, she has also been involved in Social Security matters. She takes great pride in having made a significant impact on the lives of many individuals in need.
In the coming years, Ms. Willer is considering exploring other areas of law or legal issues beyond her current role. She has a passion for sharing information, enjoys participating in discussions to help find solutions to complex problems, and has considered teaching as a potential career path. In advising future professionals, she believes that having a more generalized approach can be helpful when dealing with clients who may have unique and complex issues. She attributes her success to her willingness to learn and adapt to meet the needs of her clients, as well as her ability to understand and address diverse legal challenges.
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