By: Laya Sumithra

We spent the day following Executive Director Gregory Dewan, as he manages the firm and the people who provide high-quality free legal services to the Central New York community.

8:00 A.M.—The Perfect Beginning to a Workday: 

As the clock hits the hour mark, Executive Director Gregory Dewan takes the elevator up to the fourth floor at Hiscock Legal Aid Society (HLA) offices on South Warren Street in downtown Syracuse — one of two buildings HLA operates out of on the street. 

He steps into the office. 

It’s quiet—the workday has yet to begin. He opens the door to his office, awaiting another day of what he loves and believes in most—providing justice for people across CNY. 

Greg talks about the responsibility of leading an organization that helps people navigate some of the most challenging moments of their lives. 

He powers up his computer to review the calendar for the day. Behind his desk hangs a proud Emory University banner, where he attended law school. 

It was at Emory where he discovered his passion for public interest and family law. He uses the quiet of morning to respond to a few emails, sign documents, and prepare for the day ahead.

10:00 A.M.—A Stroll Around the Office: 

Greg leaves his office to greet HLA’s attorneys and executive staff, who have filtered in over the past 90 minutes. Every day, he makes an intentional effort to walk around the office, checking in with his coworkers and strengthening workplace connections. This has become even more important with hybrid work — to see and connect with people across the organization.

He does this with intention. He believes in a leadership style that  is approachable and responsive to the needs of the people who carry out the mission every day. 

Greg began at Legal Aid sixteen years ago as an intern. 

He’s worked pretty much every job at the agency before becoming Executive Director in 2019. 

Although he now holds a managerial position, he doesn’t let this separate him from the work or people—and takes it upon himself to enrich both. 

He loves the people he works with—people who care about what they do—and reflects that this is his forever role, in his hometown, doing work he believes in.

12:30 P.M.—Tying Up A Few Loose Ends:

Returning to his desk, Greg prepares to draft a grant report. Most grants require quarterly reporting, and HLA has recently received a new $2.7 million grant to develop a misdemeanor defense program. 

This grant will add seventeen new staff, including 11 attorneys as well as legal assistants and support staff. 

Once that report is finished, he looks over the workload of his attorneys. He wants to ensure that case loads are distributed as equitably as possible—the health and happiness of his employees is the foremost of his priorities—and speaks with the supervising attorneys of different divisions to see if work is manageable and well-assigned.

2:00 P.M.—Meeting With the People Who Make it Possible:

It’s now time to meet with his staff. 

During meetings, Greg discusses a variety of topics—everything from open positions to new programs to fundraising and grants. Earlier today, he spoke with HLA’s Human Resources and Benefits Manager, Amanda Wilson, on personnel benefits.

He also works to coordinate with HLA’s office manager and finance director to organize the New York State Defender’s Association conference in Saratoga. The conference helps provide criminal and family defense services, focusing on collaboration and training. 

After that meeting, he’ll interview a potential candidate for the seventeen new staff members that HLA is adding. He’s excited at the prospect of adding new members to the office. Today, this interview will be online—he sets up Zoom and pulls up his list of interview questions. Despite the organization growing substantially, Greg attempts to be in every interview to meet the people who bring the mission to life. 

05:30 P.M.—Relaxation, Finally; Home, Sweet Home: 

Finally back home after the work day, Greg is greeted by his cat, Luna. He gives her a quick pet, and heads over to the food bowl and fills it with Luna’s favorite meal—Lam’s chicken flavored cat food. 

As she eats, he turns on a Best Picture nominee movie—Bugonia is his next watch—while getting ready. Usually, this would be the time he would cook dinner or whip up a fresh batch of cookies or brownies, but today is special—it’s the day of the week when he goes back to Cazenovia, New York, to have dinner with his parents and brother. 

As he leaves home, he reflects with content on the day.