In honor of our 150th anniversary, we asked longtime, involved members for their recollections of the New York State Bar Association. Vincent Chang recalled serving on the Task Force on Combating Antisemitism and Anti-Asian Hate, and the Task Force on Advancing Diversity. “There was a lot of anguish in the Asian American community and the … Continued
How are federal executive orders limiting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives affecting LGBTQ+ attorneys? A seminar hosted by the New York State Bar Association’s LGBTQ+ Law Section delved into this question, as well as how LGBTQ+ attorneys can navigate this changed environment. The speakers were: Dena DeFazio, counsel at Barclay Damon. Louis DiLorenzo, co-managing member … Continued
The New York State Bar Association will honor M. Lettie Dickerson for his advocacy and activism for the LGBTQ+ community. Dickerson will receive the LGBTQ+ Vanguard Award from the association’s LGBTQ+ Law Section in a ceremony at the offices of Holland & Knight in New York City on Tuesday, Jan. 13. “M. Lettie Dickerson is … Continued
A New York State Bar Association task force is recommending removing age-related bias from job applications, training older workers in new technologies, and increasing penalties for employers who discriminate. The association’s governing body, the House of Delegates, adopted a report from its Task Force on Ageism in the Legal Profession on Saturday. The 50+ and … Continued
On Sept. 19, 2025, the New York State Bar Association Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee co-sponsored the 18th Annual Caren Aronowitz Unity Diversity Program. Chialu (Gisele) Brown, Lina Maria Diaz, Judge Helena Heath, Albert Feuer, and Duane Frankson represented the DEI Committee as volunteers. This event was presented by several organizations, including: The Gender Fairness … Continued
For LGBTQ+ attorneys, feeling welcome and included in the legal profession means finding community and being visible. The New York State Bar Association recently hosted a discussion between LGBTQ+ attorneys about being their full selves at work in honor of Pride Month. The speakers were: Sam Buchbauer, LGBTQ+ Law Section chair and associate attorney at … Continued
Elizabeth Cooper is a professor of law and faculty director of the Feerick Center for Social Justice at Fordham University School of Law, and a former member of the LGBTQ+ Law Section’s Executive Committee. Who are your heroes in the legal world? Like many of us, my heroes are those who were tenacious enough, and … Continued
A little-known international court can give LGBTQ+ people a chance at justice outside of their local legal systems. A recent New York State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education course explained the Inter-American Human Rights System, its court system, and its impact on LGBTQ+ rights in the Americas. Leading the discussion was Gustavo Miranda Coutinho, a … Continued
It’s not the holiday season, but New York practitioners often have “Santa clauses” on their minds. These clauses, which are included in some New York estate planning documents, were introduced by practitioners several years ago to account for the New York “estate tax cliff” regime. Specifically, New York law provides a credit against estate tax … Continued
As LGBTQ+ people face legal difficulties in the United States and around the world, the New York State Bar Association is hosting a seminar to explore how a mechanism to strengthen human rights in North and South America can protect LGBTQ+ rights. “The challenges to LGBTQ+ rights have only increased in the past few years,” … Continued