Frank S. Polestino Trial Advocacy Institute Faculty Advisors

Professor Charles S. Bobis
Professor Bobis served as law clerk to Justice Benjamin J. Rabin of the New York State Appellate Division, First Judicial Department and as Law Assistant to the Justices of the same court. He later practiced for ten years as a trial attorney with the Criminal Defense Division of the Legal Aid Society of the City of New York before joining the law faculty. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and serves on the faculty of several trial advocacy programs in New York City. He is a member of the Board of Governors of the Criminal Law Institute of the School of Law. Professor Bobis is co-author of Real Estate Brokerage-Law and Practice. He teaches Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, and Legal Method.


Professor Keri K. Gould
Professor Gould directs the Professional Skills Program, which includes the Clinical Externship Programs, the Domestic Violence Litigation and Prosecution Clinics, the trial advocacy programs and professional skills courses. She joined the St. John's faculty after having directed the externship programs at Fordham University School of Law from 1995-1998 and New York Law School from 1991-1994. She also taught at University of Utah College of Law from 1994-1996. After law school, she practiced with several public interest organizations, including the Legal Aid Society (Manhattan Criminal Defense Division) and the Mental Hygiene Legal Service (NYS Appellate Division, First Department). She has published numerous articles and is a frequent lecturer on therapeutic jurisprudence and clinical legal education. Professor Gould is also the Faculty Advisor to the Polestino Trial Advocacy Institute.

Victoria L. Brown-Douglas