Earlier this year, Senator Jeremy A. Cooney selected attorney and advocate Carla Palumbo, a Greece resident, as his 2026 NYS Senate Women of Distinction honoree for her years of service and leadership at the Legal Aid Society of Rochester. The award is given out each year, honoring women who have made outstanding contributions to their community.
Senator Cooney held a recognition for Ms. Palumbo and Gunnery Sergeant Larry “Gunny” Strassner at the Greece Town Hall on August 5. Strassner was Senator Cooney’s 2026 inductee into the Veterans Hall of Fame and was featured in the June/July 2026 issue of this magazine.
Carla Palumbo has worked tirelessly to ensure the availability of competent civil legal services to the poor and disenfranchised. For over four decades, her staunch advocacy and drive have had a considerable impact in her community.
In 2014, after 30 years of service with The Legal Aid Society of Rochester (LASROC), Ms. Palumbo was elevated to President and Chief Executive Officer. Prior to that, she served in numerous positions, including Chief Operating Officer, Director, Civil Division, Program Director, and Civil Program Staff Attorney. She was responsible for developing and managing the innovative Domestic Violence Program, which was at the forefront of raising awareness and providing representation for survivors.
Ms. Palumbo was instrumental in developing other LASROC programs, including the Housing Unit, Elder Law Unit, Limited Means Program, Immigration Program, Child Support/Domestic Relations Program, and the Hispanic Outreach Program. She has trained and supervised attorneys along with staff, and she provided direct representation of clients in matrimonial and other family law matters.
She was a key collaborator in the creation of The Telesca Center for Justice, a revolutionary model that unites LASROC, Empire Justice Center, JustCause, and Legal Assistance of Western NY in one building and continues to develop ongoing collaborations to ensure increased access to justice in the community.
Ms. Palumbo has devoted her time and talents to serving in other leadership positions. She was a member of the Rochester City Council from 2007 to 2015, serving as Chair of the Neighborhood and Business Development Committee. She was a member of the Monroe County Legislature from 2001 to 2007 and served as Minority Leader. Currently, Ms. Palumbo is Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of Monroe Community College.
A long-standing member of the New York State and Monroe County Bar Associations, Ms. Palumbo is the immediate Past President of the New York Bar Foundation. She also served as the Co-Chair of the Board of Directors of the New York Legal Services Coalition, a not-for-profit collaboration of civil legal services providers ensuring fairness for all in the judicial system.
While Ms. Palumbo plans to retire at the end of 2026, she continues to remain strong with passion and dedication in the pursuit of justice for her community and beyond.
Greece Supervisor Jeff McCann, Carla Palumbo, Senator Jeremy Cooney, and Larry Strassner.
