About Cara

Cara has over thirty years of experience handling complex legal matters. Cara began her career as an Assistant District Attorney for Monroe County in 1988, where she prosecuted thousands of felony cases.  Cara spent 10 of her 17 years as a prosecutor supervising the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau, where she investigated and prosecuted felony child abuse and domestic violence cases including rape, sexual abuse, child pornography, serious assaults and homicides.  In addition to responding routinely to individual requests for advice, Cara also provided leadership and legal training to fellow prosecutors and police at the Monroe County Public Safety Training Center, the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office and the Bivona Child Advocacy Center.  She carried a demanding caseload while simultaneously managing the Child Abuse Bureau and directing investigations. 

In 2005, Cara joined the Rochester City School District Department of Law, where she served for over 12 years as in-house counsel, providing legal support and representation on a variety of legal matters, including student issues, labor and litigation.  Her experience encompasses a wide range of civil rights and educational issues, including Title VII, Title IX, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the NYS Dignity for All Students Act (DASA), the Family Educational Records Privacy Act (FERPA), student discipline and truancy.  Cara additionally provided guidance for the internal investigation process at the District. 

Cara is a veteran trial attorney who has engaged in both trial and appellate practice at all levels of the New York State and federal court systems. She has conducted labor arbitrations and has appeared before state and federal agencies, including the New York State Division of Human Rights, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the United States Department of Education Office of Civil Rights and the New York State Education Department. 

Cara has served as Town Justice for the Town of Mendon since 2009. She volunteered for over ten years as a student mentor through the Lawyers for Learning Program and previously served on the Advisory Committee to the IMPACT Team at the Bivona Child Advocacy Center and as a board member for the Society for Protection and Care of Children (SPCC).

Cara’s contribution to the practice of law was recently recognized at the 2016 Excellence in Law Awards when she was selected to be presented with the “Top Women in Law” award. 

Cara earned her law degree from Albany Law School and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from St. John Fisher College. She is admitted to practice in New York State and before the United States District Court Western District of New York, United States Court of Appeals Second Circuit and the United States Supreme Court.

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