drc team

As a Director of Litigation Strategy at DRC, Joseph (“Joe”) Conza, Esq., offers nearly three decades of courtroom experience and a proven record of success in high-stakes criminal litigation. His unique strength lies in combining deep trial expertise with strategic leadership to deliver exceptional results for clients.

Over the course of his career, Joe has tried approximately 75 jury trials to verdict, earning a reputation for rigorous preparation, expertise in attorney-led juror questioning, persuasive advocacy, building defense arguments, evidence suppression successes resulting in case dismissals or improved trial outcomes, and innovative case strategy. He has deep litigation experience as a public defender.

Before joining DRC, Joe served as Supervising Attorney at New York County Defender Services, an elite public defense firm serving New York City’s most vulnerable communities and individuals. In that role, he managed a multidisciplinary team of attorneys, investigators, social workers, and paralegals, overseeing complex case strategies from inception through trial. Joe began his legal career at the Manhattan office of the Legal Aid Society.

A dedicated leader in the legal profession, Joe’s commitment to advancing excellence in trial practice extends far beyond the courtroom. He has played an active role in shaping policy by drafting and lobbying for sentence reform legislation, and he has trained criminal defense attorneys at statewide conferences in both New York and New Jersey. His recent presentations include “Think Like a Juror: Trial Preparation for the Evidence that Gets to the Jury” at the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Courtroom Skills and Client Relations Conference, where he guided attorneys on viewing cases through a juror’s lens—recognizing limited evidence exposure and its influence on deliberations and verdicts. Additionally, at the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender Annual Trial Skills Training, Joe delivered “Closing Arguments,” a program focused on equipping defense attorneys with essential strategies for crafting and delivering persuasive closing arguments that resonate with juries.

Joe earned his J.D. from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and holds a B.A. from the University of Delaware.