Title: Trial Attorney
Company: New York County Defender Services
Location: Flushing, New York, United States
Education: JD/MSW, Western New England University School of Law and Springfield College School of Social Work, 2017;
BS, Criminal Justice, corrections & English, John Jay College, NY, 2013
Career History: Trial Attorney, New York County Defender Services, 2019 – present;
Attorney, Committee for Public Council Services, 2018 – 2019;
Paralegal, Committee for Public Council Services, 2017 – 2018
Michelle Tsang, Trial Attorney for New York County Defender Services, has been recognized as a Marquis Emerging Leader for their contributions and achievements in the field of criminal justice.
Ms. Tsang knew that she wanted to work in the criminal justice system in some capacity. She had a criminal justice professor that reached out and asked if she wanted to intern with her at the Osbourne Association. It was a life-changing experience and allowed her to see a whole new side of the law while interacting with the people. With this experience, Ms. Tsang’s love for the field was cemented and she has since worked to positively change people’s lives through the practice of criminal defense and justice.
In 2013, Ms. Tsang earned a Bachelor of Science in criminal justice, corrections and English from John Jay College. This degree illuminated her path to receive a JD and MSW from the Western New England University School of Law and the Springfield College School of Social Work, respectively, in 2017. She soon got to work as a paralegal for the Committee for Public Council Services in 2017, and in 2018, worked in full capacity as an attorney with the committee. In 2019, Ms. Tsang accepted the position of trial attorney with the New York County Defender Services. In addition to these roles, she has held civic positions such as serving as the president of the Public Interest Law Association from 2016 – 2017 and as treasurer of the Debate Society.
Though only a few years into her burgeoning career, Ms. Tsang envisions a bright future for her career and the people she represents. She plans to continue serving as a public defender at her current place of business and endeavors to become involved with a learning exchange program in a prison. Looking toward the future, she has aspirations to be a judge one day. Her work has been recognized with a Distinguished Student Award and a VERA Fellowship. Ms. Tsang attributes her success to her mother, Ka Ying Tsang, who has been an inspiration. Her moth came to America as an immigrant and has lived out the American Dream. Ms. Tsang is driven to do well in her career for many reasons, and one of them is making her mother proud.