Photo Credit: John Jay College of Criminal Justice
The Office of the Chief Counsel is presenting the 2026 Disaster Law Symposium: Law at the Crossroads: Strengthening Systems for a New Era of Disasters,”, taking place on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at John Jay College in New York City.
This full day event will bring together attorneys from all sectors, academic professionals, and policy experts from across the region who seek high-quality continuing legal education courses, professional development, and networking opportunities to explore the unique legal frameworks and ethical considerations that are present in the field of emergency management and disaster response. The New York State Bar Association will provide NYS Continuing Legal Education credit to all attorney attendees.
The Keynote Speaker this year will be Jeh Johnson, who has an extraordinary record of public service, having served as Secretary of Homeland Security, General Counsel of the Department of Defense, General Counsel of the Air Force, and an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York. His notable record will allow him to provide insight into emergency authority, national security, civil liberties, continuity of government, and the attorney’s role when consequential decisions must be made under pressure.
