Alumni Spotlight: Cynthia Goode Works Named Among DC Area’s Top Criminal Defense Lawyers
Dec. 11, 2020
Cynthia Goode Works ’92 was selected as a "Top Lawyer" by Washingtonian Magazine in the criminal defense category. The list is featured, along with 16 other practice areas, in the December issue of the magazine and will be available online Jan. 1. Works is the only African American female attorney from the State of Maryland to be recognized in the criminal defense category.
"I have had tremendous practice opportunities and have taught advocacy all over the world because of my foundation at WCL," Works said. She recognizes Professors Binny Miller, Jamie Raskin (now Congressman Raskin, representing Maryland’s 8th District), and Robert Dinerstein (currently serving as AUWCL’s acting dean) as having the greatest influence on her career path.
Works maintains a private law practice located in Maryland where she provides representation in civil, employment, and criminal matters. An accomplished trial attorney, Works holds bar memberships in the state and federal bars of both the District of Columbia and Maryland. Prior to opening her own law office, she served as the Director of Training and Education for the National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA), the national membership association for legal aid and public defenders. At NLADA, Works was responsible for the content, direction, and development of educational training programs for civil legal aid attorneys and public defenders across the country.
Works has held faculty appointments at American University Washington College of Law, George Mason University School of Law, and Howard University School of Law.
In addition to the practice of law, Works specializes in the development of trial advocacy training programs across the United States, Africa, and the Caribbean to law firms, government agencies, legal aid attorneys, public defenders, and corporations. She has taught for Lawyers Without Borders and the National Center for State Courts along with members of the federal judiciary. She has also served as a faculty member and program director for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) in both their public and in-house training programs for almost 20 years.
We are always looking for alumni to feature! Please send suggestions to Franki Fitterer at ffitterer@wcl.american.edu.