Michael Scherz has more than thirty years’ experience in public interest law, specializing in work with children and families, legal issues affecting people in poverty, and ethics. Michael is Director of the Domestic Violence Project at Lawyers for Children, responsible for representation of children in custody, visitation, family offense, child protective, matrimonial and related proceedings as part of a collaborative interdisciplinary team. Previously, as Senior Litigation Counsel, he was responsible for appeals, stay applications, and other litigation.

Before joining Lawyers for Children, Michael was senior staff attorney and coordinator of training at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (NYLPI). Previously, Michael led the government benefits and special litigation units at New York Legal Assistance Group. He began his career representing children in Family Court with the New York Legal Aid Society (Juvenile Rights).

Michael teaches the Legal Services and Public Interest Externship at Pace Law School. He previously taught evidence, legal research, and criminal law classes at John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY). Michael has trained lawyers, social workers, and community organizers on a wide range of issues, including representation of children exposed to intimate partner violence, ethics, empowering people in poverty, examining bias and navigating cultural difference, rights of people with disabilities, access to health care, and legal issues relating to pro bono work.

Michael received his Bachelor’s degree from Columbia College (Columbia University), majoring in anthropology. He received his J.D. from the City University of New York (CUNY) School of Law.