By Jeremy Murphy
At Aidala, Bertuna & Kamins, P.C., Alexandra DeBenedictis plays an invaluable role: the attorney who can step into any situation and move the case forward.
An associate attorney focusing on criminal defense, DeBenedictis works on appeals, civil litigation, family matters, and alternative dispute resolution. In her own words, she is “the utility person” in an office where no two days look the same. “I’m a jack of all trades,” she says.
At just 26, DeBenedictis is one of the youngest attorneys at the firm and the first associate hired directly from law school. Before becoming an attorney, she spent three years there as a paralegal learning the ropes from the inside. That experience gave her something law school alone rarely can: a real-time understanding of what happens when clients and families arrive in crisis. “The cases that are assigned directly to me are predominantly criminal defense,” she says. “And because I work directly with Arthur, any of the cases he’s handling, I’m touching.”
Learning the Firm from the Inside
Arthur Aidala, the firm’s managing partner, has shaped DeBenedictis’ early career. She reports directly to him, helps manage his matters, and has access to his email to help keep the team on track. “Arthur likes to say that I’m his left arm,” she says. “It’s incredible that the managing partner of the firm is my direct contact as a young attorney.”
DeBenedictis’ path here began during an internship. Because she already had an ABA paralegal certification, the role quickly evolved into something more hands-on. She became a constant presence in the office, helping wherever she was needed and proving she could handle responsibility. “I kept proving that I’m capable of doing what he needed,” she says. “Then when I stepped into the role of an attorney, it just kind of morphed into this.”
A Calling That Started Early
Since childhood, DeBenedictis has imagined becoming a lawyer. Her family noticed how she had an answer for everything and often wanted the last word. Her grandmother would tell her she had the perfect personality for the profession. “She would say, ‘You’re going to be a great lawyer one day,’” DeBenedictis recalls.
She never considered another path. At Quinnipiac University, she majored in political science and minored in legal studies. She went directly to Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law during the pandemic, spending her first year on Zoom from her childhood bedroom.
Her early interests were rooted in service. She initially planned to practice family law, hoping to make a direct impact on people’s lives. This desire was personal. Growing up, she watched her uncle use the legal system to secure services for her cousin, who is autistic and nonverbal. “The law is a mechanism for making change,” she says. “That’s the thing that sticks out to me.”
Law school allowed her to explore more opportunities. She interned at the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, assisting in domestic violence and elder abuse cases, and at a boutique matrimonial firm. She served as a judicial extern in the Westchester County Supreme Court and as a legal advocate at Legal Services NYC.
Finding Purpose in Criminal Defense
Eventually, criminal defense gave her the combination of urgency, purpose, and impact she was seeking. “Every time I was on a criminal case, I felt that same feeling I was craving,” she says. “My work was directly helping people.”
The pace can be relentless. One day may involve drafting filings or preparing for a scheduled court appearance. The next day she may drop everything when a client is arrested. A few months ago, DeBenedictis left her cousin’s baby shower to handle an arraignment. “It gives me the adrenaline rush that I need,” she says. “Every single day is a different day.” That high-pressure environment has accelerated her growth. Her first trial experience was unusual: she sat at the counsel table as part of the legal team during the Harvey Weinstein trial.
Growing Into the Advocate She Always Wanted to Be
For all the intensity, she describes the firm as deeply supportive. “It’s like a family,” she says. “They always lift me up.”
The most gratifying moments, she says, often come in quiet conversations with families. She frequently speaks with relatives, answering questions and helping them feel seen during frightening moments. “When I deal with mothers of boys around my age, I look at them and wonder what if that were my mother?” she says. “It feels rewarding to see that our work is helping them and their families.”
Looking ahead, DeBenedictis hopes to become a senior associate and keep growing into the advocate she has wanted to be since childhood. For now, she is exactly where she wants to be: in court, learning from one of New York’s most fearless litigation firms.
