Practice Area: Diversity, Inclusion & Civil Rights

Public Housing Tenants Face Legal Obstacle Course To Get Repairs

Public housing tenants in New York State often find it difficult to get needed repairs and maintenance. A New York State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education course discussed how lawyers can be part of the solution, and the steps needed to empower tenants in tackling these issues. Anna Luft, public housing justice project director at … Continued

Understanding the Impact of the Muhammad Ali Case

There is no denying the impact Muhammad Ali had on the sport of boxing, yet a recent essay by a past president of the New York State Bar Association, T. Andrew Brown, details how his career and his willingness to hold firm to his beliefs changed much more than a sport. Brown also provides a … Continued

New York State Bar Association Decries Rise in Hate Crimes

Domenick Napoletano, president of the New York State Bar Association, issued the following statement about the alarming rise in hate crimes reported by the New York State Office of the Comptroller: “I am saddened but unfortunately not surprised by the steady rise and alarming increase in hate crimes in New York State. It is painful … Continued

Tackling Gender-Based Violence Around the Globe

Gender-based violence, or threats, abuse, or harm to a person on the basis of sex and/or gender, is a pervasive problem throughout the world – but there are many ways to combat it. At an event co-hosted by the New York State Bar Association and the Milan Bar Association, international experts delved into the difficulties … Continued

New York State Bar Association To Host Program To Aid Human Trafficking Victims, Connect Lawyers With Pro Bono Opportunities

Human trafficking – labor that is forced through fraud or coercion – is often hidden in plain sight. From 2007 to 2021, the New York State Interagency Task Force on Human Trafficking identified 2,137 victims in the state including more than 500 minors. About two-thirds were exploited for sexual acts while the rest engaged in … Continued

Where Do We Go From Here? Dispute Resolution DEI Initiatives After the Students for Fair Admissions Decision

In recent years, dispute resolution service providers, professional associations and court-annexed ADR programs have launched initiatives to increase diversity, equity and inclusion among dispute resolution practitioners. These programs seek to recruit, train and support members of historically underrepresented communities in the mediation and arbitration fields and provide them with the necessary training and experience to … Continued

Symposium Illuminates the Causes of Systemic Racism and Why Inequities Are Still Prevalent in Our Lives

The unequal outcomes of long-standing discriminatory laws and policies are still having an impact locally and nationally, speakers at a symposium presented by the New York State Bar Association and Albany Law School told participants. The symposium examined how centuries-old approaches in housing, health and education have widened the wealth gap between various demographic groups. … Continued