Talia E. Rodriguez is a native Buffaloian, born to a Mr. John and Mary Rodriguez of the Buffalo’s westside. Talia’s father is Puerto Rican and a transplant of NYC and her mother, Mary, is Irish and Sicilian. She is one five brothers and sisters, an aunt of 7, and a dedicated grandaughter to Rosa Rodriguez, age 92, a native of Anasco Puerto Rico.

Talia was the only Latina from Buffalo to graduate with a JD, in a class over 200, in May from SUNY Buffalo Law School. Previous to attending SUNY Buffalo Law School, Talia earned a M.A. in Social Policy, from SUNY Empire State in 2012, and a B.A in Political Science from St. John Fisher College in 2010. Talia is inspired by her grandmother who participated in the civil rights movement and marched with Martin Luther King Jr during the March on Washington for Freedom and Jobs.

As a law student Talia served as Vice Chair and Executive Secretary for the National Latino Law Students Association, was a recipient of the Puerto Rican Bar Association Scholarship, and organized a senatorial round table focused on Domestic Human Trafficking. As a student she worked for the United States Supreme Court in Washington D.C, the New York State Senate, the Erie County Health Department, Hispanos Unidos de Buffalo, and the Law Department for the City of Buffalo.

Recently she was hired by the Erie County Bar Association’s Volunteer Lawyers Project as the Coordinator of the SAY YES Legal Clinics in Buffalo Public Schools. The free legal clinics, aim to serve students of Buffalo Public Schools and their relatives. No appointment is necessary and legal advice is limited to non-criminal matters. On Monday during the school year the clinic will be open at P.S. 18 on West Ave, from 3:30-5:00 pm. Other locations include P.S. 54, East High School, and South Park Highschool.  Talia is exicted about the opportunity to provide free legal advice to her community and other communities in Buffalo. Her personal interestes include art, poerty, literature, and music.