Mark D. Funk

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Monroe County Assigned Counsel Administrator, Monroe County; Chair, MCBA

Years in current role: 8; 0

What skills do you think are most crucial for new attorneys entering the field today?

Being an attorney is all about personal connections. Connecting with clients, the judge, the jury, the witness, co-workers, even opposing counsel. Despite all of the technological advancements in society and the legal profession, attorneys need to work on making personal connections with others. Anything that can improve communication skills, both oral and written, is key to success as an attorney.

What’s one misconception people often have about your area of law?

There are many misconceptions regarding being a criminal defense attorney. Movies, television shows and books are full of them. The one that annoys me the most is that criminal defense attorneys feel bad when we win a case because we are getting “a criminal” back onto the streets. We don’t. We take the presumption of innocence seriously. We do not prejudge our clients to be guilty. When we win an acquittal, get evidence suppressed or earn a reversal on appeal, we take pride in a job well done. We have fulfilled our ethical and constitutional obligations to our client. We celebrate the fact that our client, who was presumed innocent of the charges against him, will go home to his family.

How does the Rochester community influence your work or professional philosophy?

The Rochester community is amazing! There are so many people working to make our community better. My philosophy is to meet as many people as I can in the hope that the connections that I make will help me do my job better. Attorneys who work in criminal defense and in Family Court are now expected to provide more than just legal representation. We are expected to provide wholistic representation to help our clients address the issues that brought them into court. If I can meet someone in the housing community who can assist my clients who have been evicted or make a connection in the veteran community who can work with my clients in Veteran’s Court, then my client and the whole community benefits.

What’s your ideal way to spend a weekend in the Finger Lakes or Western New York?

Friday fish fry, Saturday lunch at Schaller’s, and a milkshake from Abbott’s or Pittsford Dairy (or both!) anytime!

This profile is part of our Tax Law Power List for 2025. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. View the full list at nydailyrecord.com.