Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York Welcomes Christina Reilly as New Executive Director

With over 20 years of civil legal experience, Reilly is poised to advance the organization’s mission across Central and Northern New York.

UTICA, N.Y. — The Board of Directors of the Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, Inc. (LASMNY) has appointed Christina Reilly, Esq., as its new Executive Director. LASMNY is a regional nonprofit providing free civil legal aid to low-income residents across 13 counties. Reilly succeeds Paul Lupia, who retired in October 2025 after 18 years in the role and more than four decades in civil legal aid.

As only the fourth Executive Director in LASMNY’s 74-year history, Reilly continues a strong tradition of long-term leadership dating back to the organization's founding in 1952.

Reilly’s tenure at LASMNY began in 2001, when she started her legal career representing survivors of domestic violence. After spending two years with the Oneida Indian Nation, she returned to LASMNY in 2007 as a Staff Attorney in the Utica office. From 2008 to 2018, Reilly led the Central New York Legal HelpLine, establishing a centralized access point for clients across the region. She later managed the Utica office, overseeing a team of 34 housing, consumer, and family law practitioners. In July 2024, she was named Deputy Executive Director, and she has served as Interim Executive Director since October 2025.

 “I appreciate the Board’s trust and am incredibly grateful to Paul Lupia for the strong foundation he leaves behind,” Reilly said. “My priorities moving forward are simple: serve our clients well, strengthen our rural presence, and ensure the agency’s long-term financial health.”

 “Christina emerged as the strongest candidate following an extensive search process that included substantial input from LASMNY staff,” said Matthew J. Skinner, Esq., President of the LASMNY Board of Directors. “Her multi-faceted experience within LASMNY, combined with her proven ability to adapt to the evolving landscape of civil legal services, gave the Board complete confidence that she is the right leader for our next chapter.”

“Christina has been central to LASMNY’s growth for many years, and I can’t think of a better person to lead LASMNY forward,” Lupia added. “The organization is in great hands.”

Reilly earned her J.D. from the University of North Carolina School of Law and holds a B.A. in Russian Studies and Magazine Journalism from Syracuse University. She is admitted to practice in New York State and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York. Additionally, she serves as Secretary of the Oneida County Bar Association.

About the Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, Inc.

Founded in 1952, the Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, Inc. (LASMNY) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit civil legal aid organization providing free legal assistance to low-income residents across a 13-county service area in Central and Northern New York. LASMNY maintains offices in Utica, Syracuse, Binghamton, Oneonta, Oswego, and Watertown, as well as a centralized HelpLine in partnership with Legal Services of Central New York. The organization also operates a statewide Agricultural Worker Project. In 2025, LASMNY closed 6,365 cases and assisted 12,584 individuals, with housing matters representing 41 percent of the total caseload. 

Learn more at www.lasmny.org.