NATIONAL CRIMINAL DEFENSE COLLEGE FACULTY

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Tamar Birckhead

Attorney, Parrett Porto Parese and Colwell, PC

For over twenty-six years, Tamar R. Birckhead has represented individuals charged with criminal offenses in the state and federal court systems at both the trial and appellate levels.  Licensed to practice in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and North Carolina, Tamar has defended clients in a wide variety of criminal cases—from serious felonies in state court to alleged acts of terrorism in federal court.  …Read More
Home 2319 Whitney Avenue, One Hamden Center Hamden CT
Biography

For over twenty-six years, Tamar R. Birckhead has represented individuals charged with criminal offenses in the state and federal court systems at both the trial and appellate levels.  Licensed to practice in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and North Carolina, Tamar has defended clients in a wide variety of criminal cases—from serious felonies in state court to alleged acts of terrorism in federal court.  Among her clients was Richard Reid, the attempted “Shoe Bomber” prosecuted in the District of Massachusetts under the U.S.A. Patriot Act.

In her Connecticut practice, Tamar regularly defends clients facing serious criminal charges in Connecticut’s Superior Courts (both GA and Part A) located in Bridgeport, Manchester, Meriden, Middletown, Milford, New Britain, New Haven, New London, Norwalk, and Waterbury, although she has handled cases throughout the state.  She also defends the rights of clients prosecuted in federal court in the Districts of Connecticut and Massachusetts.  Tamar offers an aggressive criminal defense strategy and devotes substantial resources analyzing the government’s evidence against you, often working with leading experts, such as former law enforcement officers, toxicologists, forensic computer analysts, forensic psychologists, and forensic accountants.

For many years Tamar has also handled school discipline defense and appeals.  She frequently represents college as well as high school students accused of violating their school’s code of conduct, which can result in suspension or expulsion as well as the initiation of criminal prosecution that arises from the same conduct.  Code of conduct violations may include academic dishonesty, including plagiarizing and cheating; alcohol-related offenses; campus sexual assault and rape cases; fraternity, sorority, and athletic team hazing; and the possession, sale, or distribution of illegal drugs as well as the illegal use of prescription drugs.  Tamar has represented students facing disciplinary charges at colleges throughout Connecticut, including the University of Connecticut, the University of New Haven, Quinnipiac University, Wesleyan University, and Yale University.  She also represents high school students in the state’s public, private and boarding schools on matters ranging from assault and possession of a weapon to threats and bullying.

Tamar graduated cum laude from Yale University and Harvard Law School.  After a decade as a public defender in Massachusetts, she taught criminal and juvenile defense as a tenured law professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law where she also served as Director of Clinical Programs.  Tamar is the author of more than a dozen law review articles on topics related to criminal defense as well as an editor and contributor to several juvenile justice-related books. She has written opinion pieces for major publications, including The Nation, New York Daily News, and Los Angeles Times and has provided legal commentary on the challenges of defending high-profile criminal suspects for CNN, Fox News, and the Wall Street Journal, among many other television, radio, print, and web-based media outlets.

Tamar is a member of the Connecticut Bar Association, Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, Federal Bar Association, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and New Haven County Bar Association.  She regularly volunteers in the New Haven County Bar Association’s Ask-a-Lawyer Legal Consultation Clinics and serves on the Board of Directors and as a volunteer judge for Project Youth Court, a diversionary program for adolescents in New Haven.

Tamar prides herself on the close, collaborative working relationships she has with her clients.  She is available for a free consultation and often meets, speaks or texts with clients on evenings and weekends.  Tamar understands that facing criminal charges can be a frightening experience, and she spends as much time patiently counseling her clients as she does rigorously advocating for them in the courtroom.

Tamar lives with her husband and their two teenage daughters in Guilford.

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Jennifer Buyske

Criminal Defense Attorney, Kirschbaum Law Group

Jennifer Buyske, LCDR U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAGC), earned her J.D., with honors, at Gonzaga University School of Law in 2010. She is licensed in the States of Montana and Connecticut, and was commissioned in the United States Navy in 2010. As a defense counsel within the JAGC, Jen has tried numerous cases to verdict.…Read More
Work 433 South Main St West Hartford CT 06110 TPI Attendance: July, 2015
Biography

Jennifer Buyske, LCDR U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAGC), earned her J.D., with honors, at Gonzaga University School of Law in 2010. She is licensed in the States of Montana and Connecticut, and was commissioned in the United States Navy in 2010. As a defense counsel within the JAGC, Jen has tried numerous cases to verdict. In her 12 years of service, she has been stationed in Guam, Florida, and Connecticut. She now does habeas corpus and criminal defense practice in CT and serves as a JAG Reservist. Jen has been invited to teach all across the country, including CO, MA, CT, WA, as well as for the JAGC. She currently lives in West Hartford, with her wife and three kids.

Notes

Recent Teaching History

2022 NCDC Trial Practice Institute (June Session)
2022 Winter Online Cross (January/​February 2022)
2021 NCDC Trial Practice Institute (July Session)